The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-31
HEADFOREM0,T 100 FEET.
The First Suicide From, The washin gtor
Ri

The First Suicide From The Washington
Bridge.
The daily tide of broughams, dogcarts and
traps had just set in on the new Washing
ton bridge across the Harlem River yester-
day afternoon when dark man with hand
some features, whose face would be remem-
bered anywhere for the long silhen mus
tache, says 4 recent issue of the New York
Sun, was noticed walking nerVously up and
down about at the center OF the great span.
He was neatly dressed in Il black suit,
wore q new brown derby hat, and carried
black silk umbrella. The nervous man
was Henry c. harrington, an employe of
benjamin j. Falk, photographer OF $40
Broadway. He worked outside the Office,
his business being to associate with actors,
artists and politicians, and to get their con-
sent to have their pictures taken.
A man passing i'll light wagon saw Far
rington step to the railing on the west side
of the bride. toss his hat in one direction
and his umbrella in another. For an in
slant harrington stood looking up at the
sky, and before any one could have stopped
him he climbed upon the railing, which is
four feet high He stood upright for mo-
ment and then plunged headforemost. At
the place where Harrington jumped the po-
lice say the floor of the bridge Is 1873 feet
above high water. The BRIDGE floor is
known to be 153 feet above the railroad
tracks of the New York Central Railroad.
fell nearly 100 feet.
II happened that Policeman Michael j.
Owens of the High Bridge Police was on
the WestcheSter County shore, having been
assigned to watch tile property of the New
York Central to prevent possible injury by
strikers. Owens attention was attracted
by Farrington's leap into space. "At
first" he said afterward. Il thought it was
big Newfoundland dog. L suppose that
it was because the man was so far above
10 cod h l.Dl a
from the exact center Of the arch that
spans the river. | saw him turn n complete
somerSault, then another, and just as lie
struck the water he had turned over a third
time. He seemed to strike face down.
ward, and on the left side of his body. The
river is about fifteen feet deep at high
water at the spot where Harrington struck,
and ii was at full high water at the time.
As quickly as / could | peeled OFF my uni
form and plunged into the river. lie came
to the surface face upward just as had
begun to swim out to him, and sank again
Immediately. Ills face WAS purple, and
blood seemed to be ooZing from the pores
of the skin. lie rose again and sank, and
came TO the surface just as reached him.
He was still alive, but lay unconscious with
his head on my shoulder.
while was trying to keep the mans
head above water" Owens continued,
Sergeant Donovan and Roundsman Nor
gan, who were also guarding the railroad
property, got boat and rOwed out to us.
Harrington was breathing Ills last as we
got him into the boat, an operation which
was pretty difficult as he was of stalwaIt
build and must have weighed 100 pounds.
He died Just as we got to shore"
Harrington was 43 years old yesterday.
He was born in London. and was practi-
cal photographer when he came to this
country about twenty years ago. Since
then he has lived in New York, and has
worked for Photographers Mora, Falk and
Dana at different times. He was expert in
the art of persuading footlight fayorite or
a United States Senator to have photo
graph taken. He has been known to go so
far as to have handsome carriage and
team at the stage entrance ami capture
prima donna by pure assumption. In his
pocket was found after his death we'll
worn clipping from newspaper, in which
he was described as the best dressed and
most widely known man in this country ''in
the photograph artistic line"
This is the first suicide from the Wash
ington bridge,