The Saint Paul globe., 1897-11-01

is the general belief that the walk over
the bridge suggested the subject or
former jest to Amos and Bergenkrueg-
er with such fascination that they ban
tered each other into the leap, scarce
ly realizing what they were doing.
Amos was treasurer Of the cigarmak-
ers' union and had in his possession
$140 of the organizations funds, but
officers of the union say that so far as
an investigation has been made Amos
accounts are perfectly regular. He was
treasurer for two years and always
kept his financial affairs in first-class
condition. No concern for the small
amount of the unions funds in his
possession, the members say, could
have had any influence upon his act, as
any difficulty could have been easily
adjusted. 1t was said yesterday that
Amos and Bergenkruger had been
seen about o'clock Saturday after
noon sitting on the curb stone near
the west entrance to the bridge, ap-
parently engaged in writing. The pa
per was observed and both men were
bending over it with interest in what
is thought may have been some kind Of
a communication for their friends.
Nothing of this kind was found in
Amos vest or coat, but it is thught
possible that a letter may have been
placed in a mail box. If this was the
case it would not have been collected
ia time for delivery Saturday and may
have lain at the postoffice throughout
yesterday. If the letter was written
and mailed it will reach its destina-
tin today and some light may be
thrown upon the double suicide.
The search for the bodies was COM
menced at daylight yesterday morning,
but the day ended without their re-
coVery. Many boats were on the river
about the scene of the tragedy, their
occupants inspired to the search by an
offer Of $25 reward by Amos family
for the recovery of his body and while
the SkiffS patrolled the water hundreds
Of people watched their operations
from the bridge, attracted by curiosity
to see the spot from which two awful
piunges had been made. SOM Of the
boats kept TO mid-stream, while others
hugged the shore, the searchers peering
| into the waters depths in hopes of dis
covering the bodies caught on the bot
tom by snags or underground The
! first searching parties were composed
of Amos three brothers, George, Frank
and Philip, who, with two boats and
assistants, provided with graphing
irons, dragged and redragged every
foot of the river, bed in the immediate
vicinity of where the two bodies enter
ed the water. At this point the river
bottom is irregularly formed under
about fifteen or twenty feet of water
and the work Of dragging progressed
with difficulty. The current is also
very swift and unless the bodies We're
lodged in some hole or against snags
near the bottom, it is likely that they
were carried down the river. This fact
led the dead mans relatives to extend
their seach as far as Pigs Eye. The
graphing irons were run through the
entire course and a careful watch kept
amongst the floating bark and logs
near the shores, but nowhere was a
sight obtained of either body. During
the AFTERNOON a steamer with large
raft of logs went down the river pass
ing near the spot of the suicides dis
appearance, and a number Of row boats
followed in its wake, it being thought
possible that the disturbance of the
water might cause the bodies to come
to the surface. Such was not the case.
however, and this strengthened the
IDEA that they have doubtless flOated
down with the current. G. H. Miller,
of 800 West Seventh street, with whom
Bergenkrueger boarded, also instituted
a search for his dead friend, and he
himself walked down the west river
bank several miles, but was as unsuc-
cessful as the other searchers. The
graphing irons will be used again to-
day. but if the bodies are not recovered
by this afternoon or tomorrow dyna-
mite will be brought into play.
About the places which Amos and
Bergenkrueger frequented the subject
of their senSa tOnal self-de Struction was
yesterday the only topic of conversa-
ton, and some facts were disclosed
which may show that Amos, at least,
even in the apparent levity with whc;
he sometimes alluded to jumping from
the high bridge might have in reality
been inspired with a firm determilal-
ton to end his life by this means,
though the cause for the rash purpose
still remains unknown. In the first
place, Mr. Miller says that Amos was
very persistent in trying to induce
Bergenkrueger to go for a walk, and
suggested leaving the saloon number
of times. When Bergenkrueger con-
sented, Mr.. Miller says Amos ordered
a drink, remarking:
"Have a drink yourself, Miller, be-
cause it will likely be long time be-
fore you and 1 drink together again"
When the two men left the saloon
Mr.. Miller says he noticed that Berg
enkrueger turned toward Seventh
street, while Amos started in the di-
rection of the bridge, calling to Bergen
krueger, who turned about and followed
him. Last Thursday afternoon another
incident happened which is believed in
some quarters to indicate that Amos
intended suicide. He and a downtown
SalOOnkeeper We're in the barroom at
the Metropolitan drinking together
when Amos there referred to jumping
off the bridge, and asked the saloon
keeper to join him. His companion
took the matter as a joke, and retorts
passed back and forth on the subject
during several rounds of drinks. Amos,
however, grew earnest in his talk, and
his companion called him a fool, re-
marking that he was not game"
enouSh TO make the jump. Amos be-
came angry at this assertion, and hotly
declared that both he and the saloon
keeper would be better off dead. The
argument grew heated, and the men
almost came to blows.
1t was learned yesterday that Berg
enllrueger has two married sisters in
this country, and three sisters and two
brothers in Germany. He was slightly
crippled, having sustained some injury
in boyhood which compelled him to
walk with a limp. 1t is said by one of
his friends that he had been discarded
by his family, and that this fact and
his lonliness sometimes preyed upon his
mind The story is that he was sent
to this country alone when quite young
and that when his parents died several
years ago his brothers and sisters re-
cetved about $500 each from the family
estate. while he got nothing. He, on
occasions, spoke to Mr.. Miller of this
fact, and when asked about his rela-
tiYes declared that he knew nothing Of
tln cia, ], hn11ts nor did cara to