New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-04
LOVESICK AND FRIENDLESS.
YOUNG IRIsHMAN's FEARFUL JUMP.
MATTHEW BYRNEs CLEARS THE BRIDGE WITH
A BoUND-DIsCARDED BY STATEN
ISLAND GIRL-HIs yAGARIES

BoUND-DIsCARDED BY STATEN
ISLAND GIRL-HIs vAGARIES
SINCE HE LANDED AT
CASTLE GARDEN.
Another moon-struck being has challenged death
and leaped to fame by way Of the Brooklyn Bridge.
His name is Matthew Byrnes, and he is the double
victim Of heavy heart and light purse. lie
had frequently threatened to commit suicide, but
lie was also known TO be ambitious for certain
sort of notoriety, and either motive would ft his
case He had lived for year in Port Richmond,
Staten Island and his hopeless love for one OF the
village bellies has for months been matter for
general comment there.
The jumping occurred at % :25 a. N. yesterday,
when Patroman James Brett noticed man run
ming along the north roadway Just at the middle
of the bridge and taking off his coat at the same
time. The policeman recognized the premonltory
symptoms of bridge-jumping and ran toward the
neafest electric light pole, where he could get
across the railroad track Other policemen also
saw the man, but long before any of them could
reach him he had climbed on the railing and then
stepped on the cable With one hand he took
hold of the guard line and then stepped nImbly
along the cable toward the New-York side. lie
walked up the cable until he was seven or eight
feet above the parapet and then turning, leaped
abruptly into the river.
STRIKING THE WATER HEAD FIRST.
Byrnes declares that he went down straight
until he had almost reached the water, and the
most cooLheaded of the witnesses corrobOrate this
statement. As he neared the water, however,
his legs doubled up under him, and he suddenly
turned half somersault and struck the water
head first He rose to the surface and imme-
diately struck out for the tug boat w. h. Cheney,
and he was quickly hauled on board where he
lay grooming from the bruises he had received.
The Cheney was towing the st. Johns Guild eX-
cursiOn, and Byrnes was transferred to the tug
boat John L. Berwind, which landed him at the
Atlantic Basin, whence he was taken to the Long
Island College Hospital and placed under arrest.
1t was at first supposed that Byrnes had sus-
tanned serious in uries. His shoulders were black
and blue, and morphine was injected under the
skin to ease the pain. Otherwise he was in fair
condition, however, and he declared that he
would be ready to leave the hospital this morning.
He was extremely reticent, but he denied having
any intention to commit suicide. He also denied
having had any love scrape but he gave the adj
dress of NJ E. Wygant grocer and lvery-stable-
keeper, at No. Jewett-ave. Port Richmond, and
from him the reporter learned something Of
Byrnes's history.
Mr. Wygant hired Byrnes in May, a year ago.
at Castle Garden to work as a stableman. He
was then fresh from Ireland, and be worked
steadily until about six months ago, when he
found himself violently in love with Miss Cath
crime d. Smith, the daughter of widow living
in the neighborhood. The young woman dis
couraged his attentions and he soon became so
ood-for-nothing that Mr. Wygant discharged him.
Aipo than, Ptrrr hos bod r1a hftr
failed to succeed in any of them, and all for the
same cause. He worked for one day as a waiter
at Buffalo Bills Wild West Show After that
he had position as foreman over a gang of
Italians working the extension of the Rapid
Transit road TO the new Baltimore and Ohio
Bridge. He was discharged from his latest po-
sition as a coach-drivcr because he forgot to IN
harness his horses at night
Meantime the young man would dress up in his
most gorgeous raiment every night and call on
Hiss Smith, who helps her sisters support her
mother, and she at one time forbade his calling
IN her Early last month Byrnes began threat
ming TO commit suicide and on two occasions he
hOwed Miss Smith the revolver with which he
Intended to kill himself. He had also talked Of
lrownng himself unless she would marry him.
md only three or four nights ago he said he ght
imp off the Bridge. This was said az St. George,
where he had taken party of four young women,
including Miss Smith. lie pointed north to the
majestic arch of light which is plainly visible even
It that distance, and said no one need be surprised
f he should jump of of there in a day or two
Byrnes says that he has frequently jumped from
ugh cliffs in Ireland, and he is good swimmer
After he struck the water he took of Of his
hoes TO swim better. He has been great
lowell reader, and few weeks ago he gave Miss |
smith novel TO read, entitled " Ny Marriage" !
n this the hero gains his wife's love |
through false report that he had been drowned
While he was rescuing a party VI wrecked sailors !
md hoping for his own DEATH
Miss Smith, the Innocent cause of all the trOu- !
dc, IS modest and well-spollen girl of twenty,
year younger than Byrnes. Her blue eyes look |
mOst black under her jet-blacil eyebrows. |
,he works at sewing which she gets from New /
'Ork while her two sisters both work in the city.
opinions in Port Richmond differ as TO Byrnes's /
cal motive, but all who knew him gree that he /
carcely knew what fear was When a vicious |
mustang nearly killed son of Llveryman T. j. |
Brown Byrnes went into the stable alone and /
rought out the horse 60 be shot and several SINH !
ar stories are told OF him. The actual motive \
vas probably mixture of poverty, lovcsickness, |
nd vanglOry. IL was said yesterday that the /
ruck on which he rode was owned by Howell x |
aXton, Mr.. Howell being the president Of the |
Bridge trustees Bvrnes broke the record in one |
aspect, he having Jumped from greater height |
han any Of his predecessors. There have been /
We men who have made the Jump before him, but |
lost of them climbed down instead OF up before |
lmping The police estimate Byrnes's leap at |
so feet.
NITED STATES SENATOR'S AT ATLANTIC CITY
Atlantic City, ". j., Aug (SpecaD.-United States
enatOrs Beck and Blackburn arrived here tonight
hey will remain about one week and Will probably