Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-12
mBRRInrW sHoors aImsEhF,
Hut Fails 20 Hnfiict a Fatal wound
He Declines TO Talk.

|
A sturdy, thick-set man of so registered
at the Arch Street House, Mt the corner OF
Delaware avenue, yesterday afternoon.
Boston, Mass. in cramped hand and
requested to be shown ut once to his
room. The grey-bearded captain was
not entirely unknown to the clerk, for on
one or two occasions he had stopped over
night at the house. He was shown 60
room on the second floor. Five minutes
afterwards a pistol report startled the
| loungers in the office and rush was
made to the floor above. The captains
door was locked and it had to be burst
| open. The man was found sitting in a
chair, with q heavy six-shooter still
grasped in his hand. Blood was flowing
| from a wound in the left breast The
wounded man was conscious, but he re-
fused to give any reason for his act. A
patrol wagon carried him to the Pennsyl-
yania Hospital, where n hnsty examination
of the wound was made. The hall was
found to have entered the breast just
above the heart and to have ranged up
wards, barely escaping the great artery
and making dangerous but not neces-
sarily fatal wound. No attempt was made
to remove the bullet.
Captain Merrihew expressed himself
grnffly as not in the least pleased with his
ill success in the suicidal line, and re-
fused TO give any explanations. Two
letters were found in the room at the
Arch street house. One was addressed to
"B. f. Clyde, ESD, No. IL South
Wharves," and the other To Mrs. J. II.
Merrihew, care b. f. Clyde" The notes,
which are supposed to give the suicides
reasons for his rash act, were scaled, and
Lieutenant Shields of the Fourth district,
refused to allow them to be opened.
Inquiry at Clyde's wharves indicated
that Captain Merrihew had wrongly signed
himself as coming from Boston. He is a
well-known river navigator, having been
for the past 10 years in command of the
Clyde tug Chesapeake.
He was known as o reliable captain
and had good luck with his boat. It is
said, however. that he drank at times and
in consequence was discharged by the
Clyde company on Friday last. This
weighed heavily upon the old captain
and he drank deeply, until he determined
to end his troubles. At late hour last
evening he still adhered to his determine
ton not to explain his action. In spite
of the fact that Captain Merrihew regis
tered as belonging to Boston, he is well
known in the vicinity of Columbia avenue
and Seventeenth street. where he lived
with his wife and family.
Captain Merrihew's son-in-law was
seen last night at the captains house,
1922 North Seventeenth street, neat
three-story brick building trimmed with
brown stone. 1.-THE captains wife had
retired" he said, sand is really too much
frNs 30 falI l. o1,
She knew nothing of her husbands at
tempt upon his life until came up from
down town tonight. The captain has
been at home all the week, but this morn
ing he went down town. He is addicted
to occasional sprees, and when on one of
these appears to lose his senses. He had
no cause that am aware of for suicide,
and the act may properly be attributed to
| temporary alteration. If he was dis
charged know nothing of it."
TThe would-be suicide is son of the
| late James Merrihew of this city who for
merly run the packets for G.. & G. w.
Bush between Wilmington and Philadel-
4 phia. He was also in the employ of the
| Bush & Sons number of years, but has
been connected with the Clyde tugs for
several pears past. He is well known
here, and has relatives living in this city. ]
Captain J. H. Merrihew is recovering at
the Pennsylvania Hospital. He was visited
Friday by relatives, but he would not
much. The letters which he wrote at the
hotel and which were found in one of his
pockets, were delivered Friday by Lieut..
Shields.
The one addressed to b. +. Clyde, ESQ.,,
his employer, thanked that gentleman for
his many acts of kindness to him in the
past. He said: 81 take this means of tell
ing you appreciate your kindness because
1 have not the courage to face you. have
broken my word of honor with you and
will not again ask favor of you. am
now about to take u step into the un-
| known"
MIR. Clyde says that Captain Merrihew was
one of the most faithful and conscientious
men on the river. He said the captain had
not been discharged, but that he left his
boat on Sunday and failed to take charge ol
her at the proper time, when another man
was put in his place.
| Captain Merrlhew's letter to his wife bade
her farewell. He said he thought he would
be better off out of the way, as there woult
then be no danger of his becoming burder
upon his family.