The Portland daily press., 1892-07-18
A DEAD STRANGER.
William B. Platt of New York Found
Drowned at Fish Point.

Drowned at Fish Point.
Early Saturday morning, just after the
morning papers had gone to press, four
compositors, Messrs. Hagan, Laverdiere,
Nutter and Campbell, left the PRESS Of
fee for plunge at the city bathing place
at the East End. Messrs. Hagan and
Nutter, who arrived at the bath houses
first, noticed a mans clothes lying on
the platform. The clothes were light
mixed goods, the hat was of white straw
and the shoes tan colored. The shoes
were filed with water, indicating that
they had been placed there before the
shower. which had just passed over the
city. Messrs. Hagan and Nutter at once
looked around, surmising that something
was wrong. At the same time they were
joined by three Province men on their
way to Lewiston, who stopped a mo-
ment to see the compositors take their
plunges. A white object was soon dis
cerned out in the water just opposite the
ladies' bath house. One of the Province
men, Archie Stewart, at once undressed,
plunged in, and brought to the shore the
body of fine looking young man about
Is years of age.
One of the Province men at once went
to the Portland Company's works to tel
ephone for the police, but on his way
met Officer Smith. The other men re-
manned with the body. Officer Smith
at once searched the clothes, finding a
gold watch, 81 in money and small
diary. The diary disclosed that the
young mans name was William B. Platt,
and that his address was sscare of j. G.
Platt. 80 Lexington avenue, New York
City, The diary also disclosed that
the young man had been travelling in
Europe. According to- the diary, he was
in Rome in January and during the past
six months has visited all the principal
cities in that part of Europe. In June he
was in Paris. He sailed from Havre
July 2, and arrived in New York last
Sunday. Apparently he proceeded di-
rectly to Boston, leaving Friday night on
the Portland steamer.
Officer Smith at once notified Coroner
Stephen Hall and Undertaken Rich, by
whom the body was taken in charge.
Mr.. j. C. Platt of New York was at
once communicated with by telegraph,
and soon the authorities were in posses
sion of the facts relating to the young
mans identify. He was a son of John S.
H. Platt of New York City, formerly of
the now defunct firm of Hutchins &
Platt. He returned week ago yester-
day from Europe, where he had been
studying landscape gardening. He went
to Boston on business last Monday
and was expected home last
Saturday. Instead he came to Portland,
intending to go thence to Old Orchard to
visit Mr.. and Mrs. Gardiner Scudder of
Cambridge, Mass.
Why he should have taken the bath at
that hour in the morning, with a heavy
thunder shower impending, is something
of mystery. Yet the shower was a
very sudden one, much like what is
called in the day time sun shower. The
diary, moreover, indicated that it had
been his custom to take a plunge in
whatever places he had visited. The
heat was very likely close, and in spite
of the early hour, the prospect of a bath
probably seemed pleasant. The condi-
ton of the body indicated that he had
been seized by a cramp, it being bent or
doubled up.
Mr.. and Mrs. Scudder came hon from
Old Orchard and took charge of the
body, which MI. Rich forwarded by the
Sunday morning Pullman to Rhinebeck.
At "