New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-09
HEADLONG INTO A SEWER
A YOUNG MANS GREWSoME WAY OF SEEK.
ING DEATH.
PLUNGTxs THROUGH MANHoLB WITH A
sHRIEK-ALL ATTEMPTS TO FIND THE
BODY UNSUCCESSFUL.


One Of the strangest and most grewsomc sui
cides which has taken place in this city for many
q day happened at Third-ave and Twenty-siAth-
st. last night 1t was soon after half-past 5, when
the rainstorm was at its fercest and the gloomy
streets were swept almost clear OF
travellers, that three young men,, James
Moor. Eugene McGarry and James Clonanon,
who were standing in the doorway of No. 2O6
East Twenty-siXth-st., where they hVeu'
when they saw good-looking young
man dressed like a respectable mechanic
come out of James Sweeney's lquorshop, which
is ON the southeast corner of Twenty-siXth-st
and Third.ave He stopped on the sidewalk ana
for moment looked rresolutey up and down the
street. Then he walked unsteadily into the street
and up to the manhole just opposite the liquor
shop.
For moment he stood on the edge OF the man
hole and then turning round walked back to the
sidewalk After another moment of hesitation
he again walked up TO the hole, again stood by II
as if In doubt of something and again turned Dack
TO the sidewalk There was another S'omehOs
pause and then the man for third time Weno
into the roadway. This time he did not hesitate.
Walking I'D to the manhole he stopped
down and raised the covering, but droppeu
il as though its weight was too heavy for hlrn'
He made second attempt to lift 1t ana again
failed lie tried once more, and this time get
ting a firm hold on the iron edges, succeeded III
raising the covering, which fell over TO one SIDE
Then he stood upright; his arms were raised hiSh
above him 4 blood-curdling Shrek echoed
through the street Here goes, he screamed,
and dived head foremost into tho sewer
Mrs. Mary Kearns, who lives at No. 211 East
Twenty-sxth-st. was one of those who saw the
act For moment those who stood by were
literally stricken specchless and mCtionless with
horror. Then Mrs. Kearns ran into TEird-aye.'
where she met Officer Tuers, who was on post-duty
in tie neighborhood.
The men who had seen the plunge scurricd in
all directions for assistance. Quick as thought
Tweis ran to the house Of Truck Company No. :,
in East Twenty y-cighth-st., and there met Cap
tain Nucent. who had just returned from the
SXth-ave. fire,
Selling a thirty-fve-feet rope ladder, life
belt and a lantern. Nugent called TO James PEARL
a fireman. and with him ran round to twenty
sixth-st. 4 huge crowd had By this time assem-
bed and there were people who declared that
they had heard piteous groans at point about
fifty feet east of where the man had gone down.
Nugent accordingly made for the manhole next
east to the one through which the suicide hod
disappeared. Drawing an empty wagon TO the
manhoe he firmly fastened one end Of the rope
ladder to it and let the rest drop down the hole.
Pearl took the life belt in his hand and cooliy
went down the ladder amid the loud cheers OF
the crowd.
The sewer is Darrell shaped, and is about four
and a half feet in diameter IT Is the nam out
let of sewage in Twenty.siXth-St., and runs down
70 the East River, the mouth of the tunnel beng
in the imnedia,e Deighborhood of the Norgue.
l;y stoepng slightly, Pearl was able to walk along
the sewer There were about eighteen inches OF
water. and the current swelled by the
heavy ran was flowing strongly. Pearl walked
for about forty feet toward the first of the man
holes. and there few feet away from where
the man had struck in his fall ne came upon
q black derby hat
Then he walked little further on toward Third
ave. but found nothing. Turning around he
ctraced his steps until he had walked east another
30 feet. but still there no sign of the miss
nq man. The stencil in the sewer now began TO
,yqrpower him. and ne was compelled to relinquiSh
his task It is believed that in falling, the suicide
broke either his neck or his arms and was swept
Town the sewer into the river Men ~ boats VII
watch the mouth of the sewer AL through thlS
morning i'm the hope Of recovering tAe DgGN.
Just as Nugcnt was walking along lhlrd-aNe.'
on his way 10 the cOmpapys station, he was ac-
costcd by two well-dro.sed women, VINO aSSod
whether they might be allowed to see me mar hai
found by Pearl Ono Of the women was ialr ana
,icndcrly built and apparently about twenty-five
rcars old Her companion evidently about i've
years older, was dark and snort
You cannot see the hat SAID Nugent IN re-
nlv 10 the Younger womans question: % have
sent it to the station. You viii be able to see
Both women burst into tears and
hurried away. They did not appear az
The station, and the police set TO work to find
them.