The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-10
Suicide of a Strange
Woman.
AS YET WITHOUT A SEQUEL.
She Died Dressed in Satin and
in LaceS.
STORY OF A COAL PASSEI
Thought He Saw Her Go Overheard.
Buried in the POtter'S
Field.

The sluggish waters of the San Joaquin
X Yer floated a dead body ashore one day
of last week. 1t was the body of pretty
woman clad in bedraggled garments that
still showed signs of their elegant texture,
though greatly disfigured by the ooze and
slime of the stream. There is a mystery
surrounding the identity of the body. and
strange story OF suicide is related by
the purser and captain of the Stockton
steamer Dauntless that during yesterday
was at Clay-street wharf, her customary
berth.
The attention of a reporter was directed
during the early part OF the day to
George Stevens, a coal-passer who has
been in the employ of one of the Stock
ton lines. Stevens was on the dock
nearly all day. and told a story about
mysterious woman, fair to look upon, ele-
gantly dressed, who took passage on the
Dauntless on the afternoon of September
16 last. Stevens ayerred that this strange
woman Jumped overheard when the yes
sci was near Bouldin Island. in the San
JOAQUIN River, Oh the night mentioned.
The man claims to have been deck pas
senger. and he was pacing the deck when
he thought he observed the woman ap-
Droach the side of the boat and leap over
the rail into the water.
He gave no alarm at the time, for he
thought be might have been mistaken, as
it was quite dark when the supposed sui
eide occurred. He was certain that the
woman left her stateroom, for he was
close to her when she did SO, but be was
not sure about her jumping. He did not
like to make laughing stock of himself
in tie event of his being mistaken, so he
refrained from saving anything to the
boats officers, although he spoke of his
experience to several passengers.
Stevens may or may not nave witnessed
the suicide. His statement is merely in
cidental to the main facts of the story. A
woman did commit suicide on the trip to
Stockton on September 16, or rather
woman disappeared from the steamer,
leaving her hat, shawl and a package of
newspapers in a room that she had hired.
This fact is testified TO by Purser Cameron
OF the Dauntless, who registered the miss
ing lady upon the boats books as "Mrs.
Barklay."
The early part of last week, or perhaps
a few days previous. the Coroner at An
tioch was called upon to come after a body
that had been found in the tules near Gen.
trail Landing on Bouldin Island. On ar
irving at the island he was surprised to
find the corpse to be that of young
woman about 5 feet inches in height,
dressed in black satin skirt trimmed with
lace. All the clothing covering the corpse
showed that tine wearer had been person
OF means, for il had evidently been hand
some in the extreme. The woman's feat
ures were regular. her face was small and
round, her mouth small ald her hair long,
thick and of dark brown color.
An inquest was held, but the report of it
never reached this city. The news was
not made public. not because the Coroner
would not willingly have given it out. but
because it was plain case of suicide 10
his idea; as such he treated it. He ques-
toned the officers of the Dauntless, and it
was mutually agreed between all hands
that the body was that of the mysterious
Mrs. Barklay. who left only her bonnet,
shawl and package of reading matter as
means of Identification.
Mrs. Bark lays body was placed In a rude
coffin, forwarded to Stockton and there it.
was buried in the potter's field. But the
memory of her handsome face still lived
with those VINO bad viewed ii.
The suicide began to be talked of great
deal on board of the steamer, when it was
learned what disposition had been made of
the remains.
Surely" the crew argued, that woman
was not of common extraction" They
remembered her as a charming passenger
with sad look on her face. dressed 10 the
height of fashion; a woman who would
attract the notice of any one.
Purser Cameron was seen on board the
Dauntless, and when questioned about the
mysterious Mrs. Barklay. he replied.
Yes. l remember the circumstances
well. There is the book and here is the
lady's name." he said, pointing to the
signature. "She took passage with us on
September Is, bought ticket to Stockton
and secured room. / do not remember
her especially, but do recollect that she
was a reined-looking person, whom any
one would suppose had ample means,
judging from her general appearance.
I'VE missed the passenger when we
reached Stockton. Her room was closed
up tight and on being opened we found the
hat. shawl and bunch of papers.
"The body found near the island was un-
doubleday that of the mysterious lady"
On the afternoon of September Is man
and woman came down to Clay-street
wharf. The woman answered the de-
scription of Mrs. Barklay-the name, by
the way, is thought to have been an as
sumed one. The man was heard to say as
he attempted to help the lady up the gang
plank: Don't do anything rash now.
Don't be fool. Remember that you have
an honorable name to protect" or words
10 that effect.
Can any human being offer a sequel to
this mystery of the river?