The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-22
His Mangled Body Found When
the Steamer Reached It's
Landing.
HE WAS OLD AND EMACIATED
Nothing Was Found on the Remains
by Which They Could Be
Identified.

An unknown man, bent under the
weight of his years, his silvery hair soiled
bv the flying d ust encountered, 1t is sup
posed, in long walk from the interior of
the State, jumped from the lower deck Of
the steamer Piedmont when opposite Goat
Island at AS o'clock last evening.
He fioated quickly toward the stern Of
the boat. and the crowd of passengers,
who had witnessed the old mans rash
leap, rushed to the boats rail in hopes of
seeing the suicide rise to the surface of
the water. In this they were disappointed,
and Ciptain Smith quickly brought his
steamer to a standstill and ordered boat
lowered Alter the usual delay on the
part of the inexperienced deckhands this
feat was accomplished, and the boat went
in search of the missing passenger.
A bundle of clothes which was in the
unknown's hands when he made the leap
was found floating in the steamers wake,
but not a sign of the old man could be
found. The boat was rowed round and
round the big Piedmont in hopes that the
crew would catch a glimpse of the gray
haired man before he sank for the last
time, but without result.
Finally the search was given mp, and after
hosting the row boat on board the steamer
continued on her journey TO this City.
Every one or board was feeling depressed
in spirits and looked in sorrow at the
bundle of worn and ragged clothes. They
remembered the pitiful expression on the
emaciated face of the man as he rush ed to
the rail and leaped to his death.
When the Piedmont finally reached her
slip and made fast the passengers hurried
away on their various missions. Engineer
James Wasser, wishing to see that the
steamers paddles were uniniured by the
trip across the bay, entered the paddle
box on the side from which the old man
had disappeared over the raj.
Being dark in the house he lit a candle,
and there, lying on the landing, wedged
in between the drain Stats, was the body
of the suicide. His front teeth had been
knocked out from coming in contact with
the wheel and his neck was broken.
The engineer hurried from the paddle
house and informed a policeman of his
was then notified and assisted by Mes
senger Smith removed the remains to the
Morgue.
How the body OF the unknown man was
carried into the wheelhouse is a mystery.
Many are of the opinion that as he struck
the water he sighted the steamers paddle
bearing down upon him, and, realizing
the frightful death, that of being crushed
10 pieces, which would follow if he were
struck by the wheel, grasped it and was
carried at lightning speed up into the
wheelhouse, only to lose his hold and be
dashed on the landing above. 1t is also
possible that his limbs might have become
entangled in the wheel as he drifted under
1t, and in this way his life was dashed out
in a instant.
When the body was searched at the
Morgue only 20 cents was found and moth
ing by which the man could be identified.
This being the case, it Is more than prob
able that he will never be identified and
that his body will be inferred among the
City's unknown dead.