St. Paul daily globe., 1893-05-20
nized him as member of the Crane

niZed him as member of the Crane
Ordway company. with whom he at
times had business relations.
Rogers was leaning over the rail OF
the bridge, and Karl remarked that it
was pleasant day. Without making
any answer to the salutation Rogers in
quired as to the highest span OF the
bridge, and Karl replied that they were
then standing on the highest span.
Looking over and down Rogers said
the current seemed to be the most swift
and deepest right beneath where they
stood. Karl agreed with this statement.
and Rogers inquired if any one had
ever fallen or jumped from the bridge.
Karl explained that when the bridge
was being built one of the workmen had
fallen from the trestle work and had
been drowned. Becoming a trifle nerV-
Gus at the actions of Rogers, Karl
handed him business card and said he
would be glad to do any work in his
line when there was anything wanted.
Rogers said he was
Thinking OF Building,
and would bear Karl in mind when he
did. During the conversation Rogers
was busy drawing with pencil an cleo
trio light globe on the card Karl had
given him. AS Rogers seemed to be
much occupied with the sketch he was
making. Karl started toward the west
end of the bridge.
After going about twenty feet he
looked back and was Mortified to see
Rogers attempting to vault over the
railing of the bridge. He ran back as
fast as he could, and as he neared the
spot Rogers shouted that he was an
angel and could fly. At the same time
he mounted the rail and stepped down
on the outside of the sidewalk, which
projects several inches, giving him
a place to stand on. Karl threw one
arm about Rogers neck and with the
other hand grasped him by the coat
collar. All the time he kept repeating
that he was an angel and could fly if
Karl would only let go.
The struggle lasted but few mo-
ments, although to Karl it seemed like
hours. Karl is stout yonng man, but
the efforts of Rogers to throw himself
off the bridge were superhuman, and
with a crazy man struggling to kill HIM
self. Karl realized that unless help came
soon he could not hold out much longer.
He shouted Tor help ana glanced de-
spalringly around, but there was neither
team nor pedestrian in sight. Rogers
redoubled his efforts. and, breaking
Karl's grasp, turned half-SidewayS and
Leaped Down To His Death.
Karl, leaning over the rail, saw the
unfortunate mans body strike the
water; there was splash, and as the
full meaning of the situation forced
itself on Karl he tainted away. A few
moments later, when he had regained
consciousness, Karl dragged himself to
the edge of the bridge and saw the body
of Rogers floating down the river with
the tide.
In relating the story of the struggle
an hour afterward Karl said for some
time after he had recovered from his
fainting fit he was crazy himself, and
ran from one end of the bridge to the
other shouting for help. AS he became
calmer he remembered that during the
struggle Rogers told him TO take the
horse and buggy to his home OH Grove
street and tell his wife all about it.
The rig, which was tied to the rail of
the bridge about twenty feet from the
spot, was hastily united, and Karl drove
to the Seven corners, where lie notified
Patrolman Tally. In the buggy we're
found two letters. one directed to Mrs.
G. S. Rogers. 4l9 Grove street, and the
other to S. NJ. Allison, general manager
of the Northwestern COrdage company.
The letters were delivered to the per-
sons to whom they were addressed by
Capt. Schweizer. A note was also found
in tile buggy, directing that the rig be
returned to 419 Grove street.
News of the Suicide
soon reached the business part of the
city. and friends and business associates
of Rogers Immediately pronounced the