Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-02-11
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
Captain NcGilIn, Commander Of the
Chen Yuen, Commits Suicide,
BRILLIANT CAREER ENDED.
Insanity Dtv' loptd AS Resul; OF
Wounds I,eceiy d in the War BE.
tween Japan and China,

NEW YoHIS, Feb. 1l.-Cap.ain Philo
McGiiien, VINO commanded the Chi
nese iron clad Chen Yuen 10 the
battle Of the Yslu river, in September,
1894, during the Chino.Japanese war,
committed euicide early this morning
in the post graduate hospital to which
he was recoutly admitted for treat
ment. He shot himself over the right
ear. The nurse found him sitting up
In bed with mis- back propped up by
pillows. Blood was streaming from
an ugly wound on the rlght side OF
the head. On little table directly at
ana on the door near the bed was an'
otner. Ons chamber had been dis
charged from pistol on the table.
On the table was a note written with
lead pencil. The pager appeared to
have been torn from note b9oR. In
ubstence the note said the captain
LETT his respects to his people and
friends, anu regretted the act that he
was about to commit. How he came
In possession or the pslOis Is not yet
known.
The captain was taken to the hos
pital last month by his iriends. About
the middle OF January the captain be-
came Insane anu II was found neces-
eary to have him confined. He was
taken to a room o. the eecond floor oil
the building, with a window opening
on the Second avenue. He had men
tai trouble for mouths before IL de.
velopeu into insanity aud on his being
removed TO the hospital he was 50
Violent that II was found necessary to
place hlm IN u straight jacket. DR..
Hammond attributed his condition to
wounds received In the battle OF Yalu
river.
Pbilo Norton McGiliep, who com.
manGed the Chinese iTonclRd Chen
Yuen, at the battle OF Yalu river, was
born In Washington, Pa. In 1862. He
was the SON OF Captain Norton Nc.
Glffau, who served in the Mexican
war With distinction and was colonel
of the ssh Pennsylvania voluht,er,
during tne rebellion. He graduated
at the naval academy at Annapolis
with high honors in 1882.
The persous vi bravery OF Captain Nc
Citizen won admiration long beior,
the battle OF Yslu river. He wa
thrown by accident OF travel into thi
midst OF the great railroau strike q
PitisDurg In 1877 and ieadnfad iis eel
vices to tho CITY. They were accepte,
u nd he disting uished' himself by per
sonal bravery, running an engin,
singlehaDded through mob OF strik
crs,t TO rel cue the railroaders imprisoned
In the round house. He was given O
gold medal and a vote OF thanks by the
city council. When naval cadet II
Annapolis, McGifien was com pliment.
cd In general order from the secre
tary of the navy for an act OF persona
bravery In going aloft 10 secure spa
on the Constitution during a hurricane
when the sailors would not ventur,
into the rigging.
After graduating near the head o
bis class, McGifien was bonorably dis
charged ip 1854, owing to the reduc
ton OF the number OF midshlpmen. ID,
entered the service OF China dutini
the FrRnco-Chinese war, and was dis
uuVuished Tor calamity He was sen
to England to superintend the CON
stIuotion Of ironclads, anu at the out
break OF hostiIities with Japan, wa
put Ia command OF the Chimes e,quad
| ron.