The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-11
Ends Life of Capt.
MCGiffin.
Gallant Naval Officer
Commits Suicide.
He Suffered Insanity Caused
by Wounds.
Commanded the Chinese Chen Yeun
at Battle Of Yalu.
He Held Many High Ohlces In China
A Graduate OF Annapolis.

McGirfin, the gallant American officer
who commanded the Chinese battleship
Chen Yuen in the battle of the Yalu,
killed himself at the Post Graduate Hos
pital In New York this morning. Me-
Giffin shot himself over the rignt ear.
His nurse was just entering the sick
mans room, when he heard the report of
the revolver. Death was instantaneous.
On the table near the bef WAS found q
note written in lead pencil on . piece of
paper which appeared to have been torn
from note book. owing to the extreme
reticeucs of the hospital authorities In
giving details of the suicide, the exact
wording of the note could not be learned.
The substance of 1t, however, was thst
the captain left his respects to the people
of the hospital and to his friends and re-
gretted the necessity of the act which be
was about to commit.
The captain was taken to the hospital
about the middle of last month by his
friend and physician pr. 4. b. Robinson.
Since being in the hospital he has been
| attended by DIR. Hammond. About the
middle of January he became violently
insane and 1t was found necessary to
have him confined. He was taken to
room on the second floor OF the building
with Q window in 1t opening on Second
avenue. He hal had some sort OF mental
trouble for months before it developed
| into actual insanity and on his being re-
m owed to the hospital, 0he was 90 violent
that 1t was found necessary to put him In
| q straight jacket. At the time and since
| DIR. Hammond attribute his condition
| to wounds he received in the battle of the
Yalu river. About o month previous to
/, his being taken to the hospital the cap
tain went to live in q boarding house
kept by Mrs. l.. 4. WE'LL; about two
! weeks after ne went to live In the house
he began to act queer and people In the
house became afraid of him. detec-
tive was sent around to the house and on
going up stairs Captain McGiffin appeared
| in his doorway with long revolver in
his hand threatening to kill the detective.
| subsequently a telegram wss ssnt TO biz
brother John McGifin living at Little
washington. Pa, and he reached the city
on the following day. When he went to
the house, bis brother did not recognizs
| him and threatened to kill him. He ad-
vsnced towards his bother with the pis-
toI in hand, but the GOODNESS Of the other
took the insane man off his guaro and he
was cooled down. lie was taken to the
Post Graduate hospital.
Captain McGif;in was born In Washing.
ton, Penn. in 1862 he was q son OF Cap
tain Norton McGrifin, who served In the
Mexican war with distinction, aud who
was colonel OF the ssth Pepnsylvanis
volunteers during the War OF the Rebel
lion. Young McGiiiin graduated from
the Naval Academy at Annapolis with
high donors in 1882. The personal bravery
of Philo N. McGiHin won admiration
for him long before his gallant cond uct
at the battle of Yalu river earned him the
applause OF the whole world. Shortly
before he entered the Naval Academy q
train in which he wss travelling vss
stopped by rioters at Pittsburg ct thu
time OF the famous railroad strike OF 1877.
MoGifiin promptly offered his services to
the city and they were accepted. He was
ons OF the soldiers who were penned up
in the round house by On angry NOR.
Cut of from oil assistance they endured
the greatest hsrdships. But finally Nc
Gifin volunteered to run an eng
through the riotous mob. An engir
showed him how to start and stop ar ,
gine sndIthen Jump OF. McGifin cstu
sent the engine ahead through the boe
ing mob and managed to get thrcu- a
unhsrmed and reported the condition OF
his fellow sufferers, and eventually OBJ
tsined relief for them. For this he VAS
rewarded with Q gold medal and vote
of thanks from the City Council Of Fits.
burg.
II was In the following Octobsr that
(Continusd on Psgs2