The morning call., 1894-10-19
OCEANS MY STERY.
Did Striedenger End His
Own Existence?
EMINENT AMONG ENGINEERS.
He Strangely Disappeared a
Month Ago,
EMINENT AMONG ENGINEERS
WASHED ASHORE AT ENSENADA
The Fact of His Death Not Definitely
Established by His Friends
Until Yesterday.

The questions agitating the members of
the California Association Of Civil Engi-
| neers, the Technical Society of the Pacific
Coast and the guests of the Hotel Pleas
| anton are did j. II. Streidenger commit
suicide? Was he foully dealt with, or did
ne meet his death accidentally?
The story surrounding the case is an ex-
tTemely interesting one.
Streidenger, a German, aged about 55,
was a member of the above societies, as
| well as the American Society of Civil En-
gipeers. and stopped at the Sutter-street
hotel. He was man of more than usual
education and polish. having received all
the advantages Of the German universi-
ties, added to which was the experience
afforded by unlimited travel.
In his profession as a mining and gen.
eral engineer he was very eminent. When
the gigantic task of blowing up He'll Gate
in New York harbor was successfully ac-
comUlished be was the supervising engi-
neer, and in South American mines he
achieved great distinction. Latterly be
was devoting himself to designing dams to
hold back the debris in our California
hydraulic mines, problem that If salts
factorilv solved would have been worth
millions to mine-owners whose properties
are now comparatively valueless.
On the morning of Sep ember 25, he
breakfasted with Mr.. Roe of the Electric
Light Company and was in unusually good
health and spirits. He said that he was
going to take run down to Arizona for
about four weeks for the purpose of in
vestigating some mines there, and ex-
pected to start on that day.
October a body was washed ashore at
Ensenada Bay, near San Diego. The
upper portion of the remains were in good
condition, but the lower extremities had
suffered badly. From a watch the card of
Cummings Sons, jewellers at 327 Kearny
street this city, was taken and the Coroner
wired the number of the watch. On the
morning of the 10th the papers published a
telegram to the effect that the remains
through the watch, had been identified as
those of one Streidenger. The article was
seen by Marsden Manson, who was a par
tieular friend of the deceased, and he be-
came worried. He had heard nothing of
his brother engineer since his departure,
and so telegrapned Mayor Carlson of San
Diego. with whom he is well acquainted.
for additional information. The Mayor
answered with minute descrp-
tion of the articles and clothing
found and in addition 30 the watch num-
ber gave the name of -. Smith & Co.,
San Francisco" which appeared under
the collar of the coat. When the tailors
were found yesterday they said that they
had made suit of the character described
for Mr.. Streidenger. and from the jewellers
it was learned that the name in the tele-
gram from San Diegc's Coroner was in
correctly spelled. 1t was the watch
| owned by the missing man.
Thus there is no doubt that Streidenger
was drowned. But how?
The Ensenada, the only steamer which
sailed from here on the 25th. has no record
of such passenger and the Pullman Car
Company's agents cannot find mis- name
as having engaged berth on any south
bound train.
The man was strictly temperate, pros
porous and, as before stated. an exper-
fenced traveller. What reason he should
have for travelling incognito cannot be
surmised. If he was thrown into the
water it was not for purposes of plumber,
as considerable coin and jewelyy was
found on bis person. One theory ad-
vanced is that he might have been walk
iHB diObS Tie otuilS AT Tue snoTe ana Idilen
in. AT any rate his friends are severely
shocked.
He was unmarried and leaves, as far as
is known, no relatives in this country, al
though he is said to shave large number
in GERMANY.
At the Hotel Pleasanton he said that
any thing addressed to him care of the
| Technical Society in New York would
| re ach him.