New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-06
A FERRY PASSENGER LOST.
DROWNING OF EDWARD STERN. A RE-
TIRED MANUFACTURER.
NOT CLEAR WHETHER HE FELL OR JUMPED
FROM THE ASTORIA BOAT, AND HIS
FRIENDS SCOUT THE SUICIDE THEORY
HAD BEEN IN POOR HEALTH.


HAD BEEN IN POOR HEALTH.
Edward Stern fifty years old, living at the
Oriental Apartment-house, No. 1913 East Sew
enty-second-st, either fell or jumped from the
deck Of the Astoria ferrybOat Bowery Bay into
the river yesterday afternoon. and although he
was taken from the water by fe-saver. died
before the shore was reached. Mr.. Stern was
formerly a manufacturer Of hosiery at No. n
Lispenard- but retired from business some
months ago. on account of failing health. He
had suffered an attack of paralysis and his legs
badly affected. He was accustomed 70
take long rides pleasant days, and about
o'clock yesterday afternoon sent for cab from
a stable in East SiXty-seventh-st for Few
hours drive. lie was helped into the carriage
by his attendant. Edward Dunn, sixteen years
old and the driver was told to go across the
Astoria Ferry.
The boat left her pier at 424 o'clock, bound
for Astoria. At that time Mr.. Stern and the
boy Dunn had got out Of the carriage and had
gone together to Tie stern OF the ferryboat Al
first they stood on the side of the boat just
without the mems cabin, but at the request OF
the master the boy helped him across the drive
way to a place outside the womens cabin, on the
north side Of the boat
Avenue a, noticed the man, and thought that he
looked i'll and feeble Sanders also said that he
noticed something about the passenger that
made him keep within sight of him as long as
he (Sanders) was in that part Of the boat. san
ders watched the man closely. and heard him
tell his attendant to go 70 the carriage and get
blanket TO put around him. The boy started
away as he was bidden and Sanders went to an
other part Of the boat to perform his duties, thus
leaving the old man out Of his sight. for few
minutes, at least
At that time the boat was on her way toward
the Astoria shore. and had proceeded perhaps
three hundred feet when Sanders heard woman
scream and some one cry Man overheard lie
ran back TO where he had left the stranger. and
looking over the rail saw him struggling IN the
water CaDtain Benjamin Chapman stopped the
boat in an instant, and Sanders tossed life pre-
server to the drowning man.
But" said Sanders afterward, "he made no
attempt TO seize II. On the contrary, he seemed
to wish 10 avoid it. Then another deckhand ana
myself got a bOathook and leaned FAR over the
rail with it, trying 10 fasten ii into his clothing
Instead Of cutching it, II appeared as If the man
In the water tried TO keep out OF its way. lie
could have grasped it easily, had he chosen 10
do So 80 .,
was quickly sucked under the stern Of the
boat only to reappear on the other side Patrick
Fitzgerald, the Watchnan on Mill Kock, saw the
man i'm the water and he launched MS BOAT ana
rowed quickly a distance Of five hundred feet 70
Mr. stern Fitzgerald succeeded in getting the
drowning man into his boat. Just as the rescuer
lifted him over the side ne sdld, IN "a Wis me
nor. or Is very cold" Then he lapsed into un-
consciousness and died before reaching the East
Ninety-frst-st pier.
The dead mans friends were Informed or the
affair and hurried to the East Eighty-eighth-
81 station They secuted the theory that stern
had committed suicide, and declared that he
must have fallen overheard. The height or the
rail on the boat would seem to make such an ac-
oident almost impossible. the men on the boat
said Mr. Stern was unmarried, his friends
stated He had no near relatives here.