The morning call., 1893-06-10
THE SUICIDE FAD.
A Man Leaps to Death
Off the Newark.
An Unknown Woman Made an Tn.
successful Attempt Only an
Hour Previous.

The steamer Newark was the selected
suicide boat" yesterday, and a man, who
is supposed to be Il DE-. S. S. Harwood,
leaped from it into the bay and perished in
its waters.
The steamer left the city at s O'Clock
last evening. and passing Long wharf on
the other side of the bay the man, who
was standing aft on the deck, leaped over
board in clear view Of many of the pas
sengers.
1t was only an hour before that an un-
known woman attempted to jump off the
upper deck of the steamer while on its way
to Oakland. She created quite sensati on
on the crowded boat by her efforts, nut
happily she was restrained from ending
her supposedly unhappy existence by the
timely interference of a number of ladies.
Harwood, the supposed suicide, shook
Gff llfe'> mortal coil in very dramatic
way. According to the stories of his fatal
plunge into the bay, it appears to be one
of the coolest and most deliberate ever
seen. just before the steamer got off Long
wharf, Mate James Mclean happened to
walk on the aft deck.
He noticed man standing just outside
of he cross ch ain, always strung across
the deck to keep unwary passengers from
falling overheard. As soon as the man
saw him, he deliberately commenced to
take eff his sack coat. When Mclean saw
his first move he OWNED the mans in
tention and accordingly made a rush for
him.
Before Mclean had crossed the chain
the man had rid himself of his coat, but
before he plunged Mclean grabbed him.
His hOld was insecure, and before he
could strengthen it the man had leaped
overheard. The passengers shouted, as
did Mclean. Captain Brown heard the
call. Man overheard" and gave the en-
gineers the bells to stop.
Although 1t was getting dark the deck
hands got their boat ready immedia tely,
ana as soon as the steamer came to dropped
1t from the davits into the water and
r0wed to the spot where the man had
dropped. He was nowhere to be seen,
however
Death had come quick, for he like many
others that have tired of life, and leaped
into the bay to end 1t, disappeared as il by
magic into its depths.
The man, who according TO Mclean,
was about 80 years OF age, and who
weighed about 160 pounds, wore a light
tweed sack coat, dark trousers and a black
slnuch hat.
The coat he left Oh the deck of the
steamer is the only clew to his Identity.
In pocket-bO of crocodile leather was
found receipt for $50. paid as a part pay
ment on lot % of block 5, Klamath City.
Slsklyou County. 1t was made cut to DR..
;: s. HarwoOd. and was signed by the
Klamath City Lumber Company, per B. B.
Gibson.
There was also a receipt signed by s.
johnson of 737 Hord street, of SS01 from
Mrs. Harwood. A photograph of a woman.
apparently Swede, was also in the pock-
et-book. as well as heavy gold chain and
locket. The photograph is presumably
that of the suicides wife.
The woman who made an attempt to end
her life Is unknown, but she said she has
sister named Mrs. johnson residing at
313R Ritch street in this city. She at
tracted the attention Of the throng of peo-
ple on the upper deck by climbing on the
rail, which was incidental to the taking of
her contemplated fatal bath.
Several ladies' restrained her by clutch
ing vigorously to her clothes and holding
her until Watchman j. ID. Hawkins ar
rived on the scene. The watchman held
the woman until the mole was reache ed,
and also on the return trip to the city,
which she was compelled to make.
She told him that her troubles extended
over a period of fifteen years, and that she
had been married three times. Her last
husband caused her a lot OF pain, so much
so, in fact, that it'drove her to drink.
She had her share Of stimulants with
her when she decided to end beI troubles
and 20 the watchman, who intmated that
size was demented, she said that she had
been drinking hard for some tlme She
was a weD-dressed woman, about As wears
of age. She vowed when turned loose at
the ferry that she would yet end her life
by committing suicide.