Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-14
TRIED TOCUTHIST THROAT.
A DESPERATE ATTEMPT AT SUI
eide AT SEA.

A Young German on the steamship
CO. or savannah in a Fit of Delirium
Trruens Gashes His Throat With
Jackknife-A Moose in His Pocket Be
travs His Desperate Purpose-Griei
over His Fathers Death and the Loss
- an Expected Fortune Drives Him
to Drink and Insanity.
AouilIa Won Velsor, a steerage passen-
GER on the New York steamship ''City Of
savannah" which arrived at daylight yes
ter,Iav morning, attempted suicide by |
cutting his throat while at sea on Thurs
day. The attempt was desperate but /
bungling one. and tell good ways short
If being successful. The knife barely /
peuetrated the flesh and made only slight /
wound under the chin. Before second |
thrust could be made. which, from the /
mans intentions, would prObaoiv nave
been at the jugular vein. the khlie was
wrested from his hand. Inc oloOI
poured out OF the wound, Whlch, thOugn /
not deep, extended squarely across |
the throat. and streaming over MS snlrt
front and clothes, presented gnasll!
sigbt. The direction OF the wound show
Fl that the knife had been drawn with
o-licS thrust from under the lett ear 10
Tarar5- the right with a murderOus jerk.
A IL struck LuE EhAu eAAA 1S5oA - 80
into the flesh, the pain and realizing
sense Of what he was doing evidently
came over the mans mind, and his arm
dronred before he had accomplished his
rash purpose. He was quickly removed
10 another part Of the ship and placed
uEder a guard in a stateroom, where ne
was closely watched during the remain
Ger Of the trip.
AN INSANE MANS ACT.
Immediately upon arriving in port Capt.
Daggett reported the matter TO Gen. Sor-
reu agent Of the line. The man having
every appearance OF being insane the case
was deemed 10 be within the jurisdiction
of the Ordinary. and a warrant was
secured for his commitment 10 jail. He
was securely handcuffed aud brought up
20 the city in a carriage. AT the jail ne
was placed in the sick room instead OF
in an ordinary cell, where he was at
tended. at tie request Of the steamship
agent. bv DR.. W. ii. Elliott. his cOnuI-
| tiOn was pronounced to be very serious, and
upOn the PHYSICIANS advice permit was
! obtained for his admission TO the SaYan-
nah Hospital, where he was removed
under an order by the Ordinary.
The man was evidently suffering win
an attack Of delirium tremens. His
str,n0a actions on board the ship were
noticed bv The passengers and by some OF
mo sbin's officers. on the night before
Ina atfe,untei tie rash deed he was In the
engineers room talking with the puTser-
He said he had just received news
of his fathers death Oy Wnlch
he had expected TO fall heir TO eonsldera-
,le money. The matter had turned out
differently from what be had expected.
His fathers affairs were complicated so
that there would be nothing leit-mOre
than few dOllars-where he had expected
THERE WOULD BE A FORTUNE.
lie had a number Of letters and papers
in his rockets announcing his Iatners
death and telling him Of the condition OF
lis affairs. The matter seemed TO prey
upou tia young mans MIND, ana iroH
the tim. he went aboard the snip IN New
York he was moody and kept apart from
the other passengers IN the steera4e quar-
Ter. He had evidently been drinking hard
and was lust getting over a spree. lie
had very little money and being I'M
able TO obtain liquor on board the Snip,
the terrible thirst drove him Wild. lie
drank. he said, to drown his cares anu
-riet for his father, and u sci away from
his dis appointment at the loss Oh us eA-
uactad fortune. He bought a through
ticket nj the steamship office In New
York - 81. Augustine, Fla, where
he claims his wife lives. HIS
unusual behavior was noticed the day the
shjn lett New York. On Thursday about
noon he was on deck, and inquired Eheh
the Vt sseI would reach savannah. upon
being told he went forward to the steer
age apartment. aud with an ordinary
pocket knife attempted
TO TAKE HIS LIPR.
When the knife was taken from him the
ships quartermasteT searched him before
he was put into a StaterOOm 10 see that
be had nothing else concealed on his per-
son with which he might accomplish the
murderous act. Putting his hand into one
II his pockets he drew out length
Of small stout rope with moose topped
on one end AMI a slip knot on the other,
which he had evidently intended 20 use,
AMI then had changed his mind and re-
sorted to what he thought would be a
surer means. Besides the letters and pa
pers relating TO his fathers death and a
few tr.nkets which he had in his pockets,
there was nothing of suspicious chaTac-
ter found on his person. and further tnan
the rope there was nothing 10 snow that
the suicidal
ACT WAS PREMEDITATED.
He had appeared respondent and de-
iectad AT times during the first daY and
half of the trip. put the entire symptoms
we're Of the dreaded delirium tremens.
All the money he lad was > cents.
After being confined he was under
strict surveillance until turned over to
the authorities. and 10y MS manner
showed that be was labOTing under in
tense excitement and that his mind was
uuquestiOnably deranged. After being
subducd and got under control the matter
came to the attention of DR.. f. NJ.
Cameron, a prominent New York physl-
clan. Who was q passenger on the snip
and who volunteered his services and
temporarily dressed the wounds.
As the man was removed from the jail
last night and taken to the hospital he
showed the effects Of his debauch. His
hands trembled and shook violently, and
his features bore
The MARKS OF DISSIPATION.
He is apparently about 80 years old, Of
medium height, with dark eyes and COM
rlexion. sn1 dark, umkempt hair and
dropping mOustache, AMI was ordinarily
well dressed.
In reply to the PHYSICIANS inquiries be
said he was Of German nationality and
vas born in Flushing, L. l. He is
enthusiastically trade, and lives
in 81. Augustine. Fla. He was placed in
the lookup in charge of a nurse. As the
PHYSICIANS left him he gave directions in
case anything happened and that he
should die, that his remains be sent TO his
wife.
lie made no allusiOn to his troubles,
and seemed t. avoid saying anything eX-
cept in reply To the questions Of his attend
ant. The handage around MS throat was
stained with blood, and as it was removed
Dc nTto.rpl tho ubySiciau 20 examine the /