The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-19
A PLACE OF SUICIDES.
BEAUTIFUL LOOKOUT HILL, MADE
FAMOUS BY WASHINGTON.

Most New Workers know very little OF
Lookout hill in Prospect park, Brook
lyn, except that they occasionally see
some mention of it in the newspapers
One Brooklynite who was asked for in
formation about it the other day de
scribed it as a place where fools from
New York go to commit suicide some
times"
This description of Lookout hill is
hardly fair one. 1t is true, however,
that for some reason men who want 10
commit suicide do somehow manage
very frequently to drift out to this part
OF Brooklyn's big park to carry out their
intentions But they don't all of them
go from New York. There have been
two suicides there by Brooklynites. The
two that preceded these, however, were
men from New York, and of the many
prior to these Brooklyn may be charged
with the most of them.
One stormy, snowy day well dressed
young man hired cab in this city and
was driven rapidly over the bridge to
Brooklyn and out TO Prospect park.
When the cab reached the city line the
young man got out and sent it back to
New York. Then he went into saloon
near by. He left the saloon, entered the
park, walked through the driving snow
to the summit of Lookout hill and there
shot himself
a policeman heard the shot, and found
the body of the suicide still warm, but
he was dead. He had evidently intended
that there should be nothing cheap or
vulgar about the affair, for even the re-
vOlver used by him was of the most ex-
pensive pattern and make and had been
bought new for the purpose. He was
identified as q Columbia college student
belonging to New York family of ex-
cellent standing.
REMARKABLE IDENTIFICATION.
The suicide before this was also that
of New York man, and it attracted
some little attention at the time by rea-
son of the fact that there was mix up
about the Identification of the body.
This had lain on the hill SO long before
it was found that it could be identified
only by the clothes on it and by the for
nation of the body. 1t was formally
identified at the Brooklyn morgue the
morning it was found as the body of a
New York printer, who had, through
dependency, taken his life.
This Identification was made by two
members Of Typographical Union No. 6,
who had known the man. Later that
day the body was again identified as
that of barber doing business on Third
avenue in this city, and this identified
ton was finally found to be correct.
The most curious thing about this case
was the physical likeness Of the printer
and the barber. The barber was de-
formed-that is, he had a club foot. The
same was true of the printer, and it was
the left foot that was deformed, as was
the case with the barber. They We're
alike otherwise. Then the
printers friends identified the clothing,
the shoes and the hat and even knife
that was in the pocket of the suicide.
But the printer wasn't dead. The
writer knows that, for he reported the
first Identification for an afternoon pa
per; the second was made too late for
notice that day, and in about a week
afterward the printer brought suit
against that paper for 500, 900 damages
for saying that he committed suicide
He didn't get the $4,000, but he did
prove to the satisfaction of all that he
was very much alive.
HISTORIC PLACE.
But there have been any number OF
suicides on Lookout hill. Brooklynites
are inclined to object to the use that is
made of this picturesque spot, and as for
the Prospect park police, they more than
object. They constantly patrol the
of the hill, and any lounger
about there is sure to have a very care
full eye kept upon him by the bluecoated
guardians of the park.
Lookout hill Is one Of Prospect parks
and historical spots. 1t is
high hill looking out over the big lake
and the boulevard, and is heavily wood
ed. AS point from which to view the
country it is unsurpassed.
From its brow you can see for miles in
III directions. Coney island, Manhattan
beach, and even Far Rockaway, are Wis
Ible to the naked eye. Flatbush and
other towns nesting down among the
trees, and the farms stretching out over
the level country, present a fine scene at
his season.
General Washington used this very
nil TO make observations from when he
vas holding Brooklyn and watching for
The expected landing Of Sir Henry Gin
ton on Long Island. 1t was from here
mat the American generals watched
Clinton's movements when preparing for
ne disastrous battle Of Long Island that 7
resulted in the retreat Of Washington 70
me heights above the Harlem and gave /
New York city into the hands Of Sir !
Henry Clinton.
The tide OF battle swept all around the /
ill and IN the green field below il good !
blood stained the sward.
But times have changed. Battles are /
till fought in the field below Lockout 1
liIl-the sham battles Of the Brooklyn 4
militia And the hill itself Is 10 longer 7
yisited b. great generals. Those who /
Tant to commit suicide go there instead /
New YORK Recorder.
Aan