The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-27
CAUSED By The FIRE.
The SkidbyS Nate Thought Himself
Responsible for The Salvage Claim


Said to Have Tried to Prevent the Tug
From Putting It's Hose Abe ard, for
Which Salvage Was Claim I'd Brood
ing over This is Believed to Have
Brought on Partial ms anity Hooper
Was an EngIishman ar d Lived Near
Southampton.
George W. Hooper. chief m ate Of the
British steamship Skidby, consigned TO
Mezsrs. Richardson & Barnard, and now
I'm port loading with cotton, attempted
suicide yesterday morning about $40
and it seems likely that his attempt win
o'clock by cutting his throat with razor,
prove successful
Hooper was in his room leuring against
the bunk when Mr.. James Cope passed
the door just before breakfast time. The
razor was noticed lying near by but little
attention was paid to it. Within two or
three minutes after that time Capt John
strachan of the Skidby and several others
sat down to breakfast. Capt. Strachan
instructed the steward 10 ask the mate
if he would have some. breakfast. The
steward went to Hooper's room, and in
minute returned to the dining room, say
ing: my God. the mates cut his
throat"
The mate was found lying on the floor
in a pool of blood. The razor with which
he had cut himself was found near at
hand. He had evidently intended to
do the work well, as the cash was three
or four inches in length and was deep
one. DR.. j. G. Kellar was hurriedly sum-
moned, and afterwards Or. c. N Brandt.
Everything was done for the wounded
man, and his wounds were dressed in the
best manner possible, but both physicians
agreed that it was impossible for
him TO live, as he had cut into his wind
pipe and some of the veins and arteries
Of the throat.
Hooper was, to all appearances, resting
| easy last night, but one OF the physicians
stated that he might live an hour and
might live twelve hours. If he lives until
this morning it was thought there might
be some chance for him, though a slight
one
Hooper's reason for committing suicide
was a peculiar one. On the night of the
| fire on the Skdby, in which her cargo was
| so badly damaged, one of the tugs of the
/ Propeller ToWboat Company came along
/ side and insisted on putting her hose
/ aboard. Hooper, it is said, resisted this
action on the part of the tug, but it seems
/ to no purpose. The company claimed sal
wage, and the vessel had to pay a large
/ sum to the owners of the tug. Hooper it
/ seems, had this fact on his mind and was
/ brooding over the belief that he was re-
/ sponsible for this loss. In fact he made
this statement in substance in a letter he
| left, stating, in effect, why he had tried
to kill himself.
Brooding over his trouble, together with
/ excessive work which he has
had since the fire, is thought
to have caused a partial de-
| rangement of his mind, which led him to
attempt TO take his life. Capt. Strachan
| attributes it to these facts, and knows of
no reason for his act unless it was a par
tial arrangement of his mind, resulting
from the causes stated.
Hooper was about 90 years of age, over
six feet in hight, and was an excellent
physical specimen He was considered
one of the best men aboard the ship and
had been in its service as chief mate about
fourteen months. He lives at Shirley,
near Southampton, England. where he
has a wife and a widowed mother
An evidence of the cause that his failure
to prevent the tug from coming aboard
had something to do with his action is
found in what he wrote after cutting him
/ self He was unable to speak and could
only communicate by writing. In one SEN
: tence he asked If there was any chance
for him. He seemed to be anxious to re-
3 cover from his wound.
When he saw signs Of despair among
those around him he wrote: Save me.
captain. Save me this time" To the
l physician who attended him he wrote:
, Save me- doctor; give me another chance
Give me a revolver" This was taken as an
indication of the fact that he wanted an
/ other chance to keep the tug away from
3 the vessel, his mind wandering back
to the night of the fire In an
, other sentence he asked the physician tc
: give him chloroform, and all during the
day he seemed to be suffering intensely.
4 In answer to a question as to whether
1 he wanted to send any word to his wife
he did not reply Capt. Strachan says he
t. has always found him one of the best OF
I men and an excellent sailor, and that hf
q has never found occasion to speak a eros,
l. word to him. He regretted very deeply
q that the mate had attempted to take hi.
n own life.