The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-12
POOR M'GIFFEN GONE.
COMMITTED SUICIDE YESTER-
DAY At NEW YORK.
Left Note Saying His End Was Not
What Was Anticipated-Was an
Officer in the Chinese Navy at
One Time During the War With
Japan-Graduate at Annapolis.

| New York Feb. 11.-Captain Philo Nor
ton McGiffen, the young naval officer who
won distinction at the battle of the Yalu,
in the Chinese-Japanese war. committed
suicide by shooting himself in the head
at the Post Graduate hospital at an
early hour this morning. Captain Nc
Ciffen had been at the hospital about a
month under treatment for nervous pros
tration. He had however, for some days
past, been considered convalescent. and
it had been arranged TO place him in some
quiet retreat in the country until ne
should regain his normal health The
captain had improved mentally as well as
physically, and II was deemed needless
to keep a close watch upon him. He was
kept confined 10 his room most OF the
time, however. He retired at 10 o'clock
last night. His attendant. male nurse
named Barrett, noticed nothing unusual
in his patients demea nor.
At o'clock this morning, Barrett was
startled by pistol shot He fastened TO
Captain McGiffen's apartment and found
his patient sitting bOlstered up in bed,
blood streaming from bullet hole in the
right side of the head, about two inches
above the ear. A large navy revolver
pistol, together with hastily penciled
note left by the captain were taken
charge of by the coroner.
The note was neither dated nor ad-
dressed but read as follows:
'Memo-Look alive that the bed is not
on fire by my shot. My compliments
L
nation must remain unknOwn-but you
may guess.
With apologies to Miss Phelps for the
roW-it is a way that all guns have. Au
revoir. Please give my good byeS to Mr..
Gorham and my compliments to Mr.
Bennett. incidentally | may note that
though / effect my exit. it is not the
hegira L anticipated nor the one predicted
by the learned staff. p. n. NJ.
Captain McGiffin was removed to the
hospital, where he ended his life about the
house on West Thirty-third street. At
one time he was violently insane and it
was only with great difficulty that he
was persuaded TO go. He had been stop
ping at the boarding house for several
months. and spent most of his time in
reading and writing. He appeared quite
rational. although noticeably reticent.
Two weeks previous to his removal to the
hospital however. he began acting
strangely and his landlady suggested a
doctor. He refused TO have anything to
do with doctors, and a few days after
wards his rawlings became so violent that
the police were summoned. The captain.
on hearing of their arrival came from his
room with revolver in each hand. and
stationing himself at the head of the
stairs leading to his apartments. declared
10 would shoot down the first man who
approached. 1t was only when John Nc
Giffin. the captains brother. arrived from
his home at Little Washington. Pa. that
the raving man could be induced to go
to the hospital.
Captain McGiffin was formerly an Off
ce= of the United States navy. and sub
secuently of the Chinese navy. He was
in command of the flagship Chen Yuen
at the memorable battle of the Yalu river
or the afternoon of September Il. 1894.
L that engagement he fought his vessel
with great skill and daring against the
Japanese ships. The terrific strain to
which ne was subjected during the fight
Was attributed as the cause of his men
tal break down. In that battle both of
his ear drums were ruDtured; his eyes
permanently affected and his head and
body filed with splinters of woodwork
and steel. He was only 81 years of age
and a graduate of Annapolis.