The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-29
FRANKLIN BAsSFORD 4 SUICIDE.
Marine Artist and Inventor, Discouraged at
Supposed Perndy. Shot Himself.

- INV NVDNo -
Supposed Perndy. Shot Himself.
Franklin Bassford, a marine artist and
writer, committed suicide yesterday morning
by shooting himself in the right side Of the
head on board Of his launch, the Larita, which
was designed by him and was ut anchor Off the
foot Of Communipaw avenue, Jersey City. His
act was due to dependency, the result of heavy
money losses and the failure of an invention
or discovery through which he had hoped to
make a fortune. Just before his death he
wrote u letter, in which he said that he was
ready for a trial to-day Of the new motive
power which no had discovered, but some one
who wanted to prevent him securing certain
patents had tempered with the engines Of tho
Larita and undone the work Of months.
Mr.. Bassford was 40 years old. He was mar
ried and lived at 212 Arlington avenue, Jersey
City. His pictures of the White Squadron
have attracted attention. He vas an enthusi-
astic yachtsman and was the yachting editor
Of Outing. He derived from his writings and
paintings a large income, but most Of his money
was spent in experiments by which he hoped to
develop great motive power by small expendl-
ture. He built n miniature. yacht on new lines,
and 1t beat everything with which 1t competed.
He never succeeded in applying the sames lines
to a larger boat with as much success. He in
vented, a ,nondescript craft for inland waters
to go BY foot power on the principle Of a bicy-
About a year ago Mr.. Bassford took up the
scheme of a vapor yacht, Of which the Larita
this he had made a great discovery, and on the
clarcd he would do thirteen knots with a
twelve.horse power engine. 1t Is said that he
had partners in the vapor yacht, being Obliged
ssry money. It is also said that he had some
was considerable feeling. The contract for
building the model was given to a firm of boat
builders In Jersey City. Bassford believed that
tho builders were trying to steal his invention.
AS far as can DO learned, there was no ground
for such a suspicion.
Yesterday after breakfast Bassford told his
SO careful OF the boat that he had Frank Nc.
Grath sleep aboard. Bassford went into Me
hotfs saloon, which Is Mt the foot of Communi.
paw avenue, at about $3.50 o'clock and ordered
IA glass of beer. He talked in a good natured
way and went to the dock and rowed to the
Larita. ,McGrath took the boat and ruwed
1t anne from the boat" said NiehoG. Il
can see smoke coming out Of the cabin"
found Bassford lying on the floor of the cabin
with a pistol in his hand. A mail stream OF
blood flowed from his right ear. A sealed let
Opdykc, 10l Ocean avenue, lay on a chair.
Under 1t was a slip of paper on which was
written: .
policeman what had occurred, and then ran to
DR.. opdyke's. The Doctor read the letter and
ford had planned suicide the night before and
that he had killed himself on account of inc
launch, which had become everything to him.
The letter concluded:
through tho, incompetency and opposition OF
others 1 find myself in such a position that
cannot go on any further"
This was all OF the letter which DIR. Opdykt
was willing to give out.