The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-01-07

|. The mystery concerning the disappear
ance OF Electrician Joseph Collins, who is
supposed TO have drowned himself yester-
day afternoon in the river, off Ninth street
wharf, has not, at late hour this after
noon, been cleared up.
Harbormaster Sutton had a force of men
from the Police boat Joe Blackburn at
work early this morning dragging about
the place where Collins. il is thought,
plunged into the water, but their efforts
60 resurrect the man have been unsuccess-
ful. For this reason some are inclined
20 the belief that after all the man is not
al :he bottom of the river.
Both his father and brother, as well as
Mrs Collins and his immediate friends, re-
fuse to believe that Collins committed sui
eide, but at the same time are unable to
offer any other tangible theory in view of
the circumstances in the case.
Collins father, who is employed as engi-
neer at EmrCh's Hotel, opposite the Balti-
more and Ohio depot, believes that his son
went 30 the wharf and boarded one OF the
steamers for down the river, and might
have gone 10 Norfolk or some other point in
search OF employment
The Fathers Theory.
This hardly seem possible, however, rs
il he had some one would have seen him, be-
sides tie finding Of the mans hat and coat
are not accounted for by this explanation.
Mrs. Collins Is completely Frustrated 10y
grief. hut aside from the fact that Mr..
Collins was = kind father and loving hus-
band. she knows almost nothing of his
business affairs.
j.. fr,. 81 l,at
work has been slack with him for some
time. and he is supposed 20 have been de-
Spondent FOR this reason, and short of funds.
His office. one small room on the second
floor OF No. 407 Seventh street northwest,
was found 10 contain nothing hut an cleo
trician's tools and a large quantity OF
electrical appliances OF little value. The
room was locked this morning.
Collins had no family troubles, and was
not a man addicted to drink, but on the
contrary was always at home with his
family in the evening. His rent for both
his house aud office was paid in advance.
anditis not known that heowedany bills.
Yesterday morning he left home sbout
s O'Clock, and was in his usual mood, be-
ing always Of a jovTal and eood-natured
disposition. II was the last seen OF him
10y those who knew him well.
The statement that a Colored man was
with Collins at the wharf is scarcely to be
relied upon, and nothing has been found
of the box or grip he is said TO have car
ried in his hand.
saw Nothing Of Him.
Another cclored man, who sat on the
deck OF the schooner Lilly all the after
noon nending a sail, aud at a point where
he could have seen anyone on the wharf,
saw nothing OF the man.
The boy who claims to have heard the
splash was i'm the closed cabin Of the boat,
and is scarcely intelliCent enough to state
any of the circumstances
Another ruinor boutthe wharf this morn
ing was to the effect that a dog belonging to
Mr Wimsatt. whose office is atthe wharf,
was heard to make a terrible adUo, running
up and down about that time.
The police made "a careful search OF the
dock Immediately after they reached the
spot yesterday afternoon to ascertain if
the water had SplaShcd upon the wharf,
but found no evidences Of it.
Collins is not known To fave had any
i &c Insurance except benefit in the
Electrical Workers Assembly, OF which
he was a member.
At a late hour this afternoon the body
had not been recovered and if il is not
found tonight the dragging VIII be discon-
tinued.