Evening journal., 1895-07-08
ANOTHER RIVER VICTIM.
JAMES M'cLURG WALKS INTO THE
CHRlSTlANA WHILE DAZED.

He Had Been Celebrating tho Fourth
OF July and Went TO Sleep on Pile
Of Lumber at the Foot OF Shirley
street-His BODY Found-rhe Inquest.
While swimming in the Christlana
yesterday near the Cool SprlDg Ice
Oompany's dock, John Davis, Of No 2Og
Market street, ana Anthony Miller, OF
No. lOl Washington street, noticed a
body Eating In the water They notified
Sergeant Howgste OF the patrol who
secured It and then notified Deputy
Coroner Chandler, who had It taken to
the morgue and made an investi CATION.
The body was that OF James McClurg,
employed as a lsborer on the farm OF
Thomas Gray, near Shellpot, and who
has been missing since last Thursday
night or Friday morning IL was badly
bitten by fish. bat showed no signs Of
foul play. The superstition is that the
man walked OF the wharf &C the foot Of
Shipley street while under the influence
Of liquor, and this Is born out By the
statement Of companion, Samuel MsCor-
nick OF Seventeenth and Union streets
who WAS the last man who saw him alive.
According to his testimony the two
had been celebrating the glorious Fourth.
and after drinking a large quantity OF
liquor made their way to the wharf at
the foot Of Shipley street and went to
sleep on s pile OF lumber. About 2
o'clock Friday morning he woke Both
men we're there them and hslf-pint
bottle Of whiskey lay beside each. Nc.
Cormick started to 60 home but went
the wrong way and walked into the
river. The shock partially sobered him
and he SWAN across. only to be stuck In
the mud. Releasing himself he swan
back, but when he rot TO the wharf he
was 50 exhausted that he could only hold
to q spike and call for help
Night Wstohman Mclaughlin threw
him 8 rope and drew him out. when he
started to look for McOlurg Not finding
him be came to the conclusion that he
had gone home and followed suit On
related to him the occurrence, but the
officer could fad no trace OF the man aud
put the story down to the Imagination OF
a drunken man.
An inquest was held this morning by
Deputy Coroner Chandler Thomas
Gray, the milkman at Rivsrview for
whom McClurg worked, said he loft
Thursday at m after cutting wheat
all day MeCiurg had been accustomed
to going on monthly sprses
Samuel Mccormick told his story
materially rs above He knew McCiurg
for dozen or more years Net him AT
Browns Hotel about IL o'clock Thurs.
day night. but diin't know anything
afterwards until he found himself In
the water.
Sergeant Black met Mccormick at
Delaware avenue and Jefferson street
aud listened to his story He told him
to find out II McClurg was missing
Captain William Campbell and Edward
Godfrey, who secured the body aud
towed it to the dock, testified TO that
fact
The verdict was death from accidental
drowning.
McClurg was a native Of Ireland. aid
has wife an6 family In that country.
he has been over about twelve years
McClurg was IS year OF age and
prior to working for Gray was EN-.
ployed by the DuPonts and later by
George Walker near Spring Hill .brs Tery
He WAS member Of No 1875 Star ofBethsl.
Orange lodge A subscription was
raised to have him buried at Rivervisw n
Cemetery. TO which the members OF the
coroner's jary donated their fees The
interment was made by Deputy Coroner
Chandler this afternoon.