The San Francisco call., 1897-09-24
DEATH BY DROVNIN G
A Body Recovered From the
Bay Supposed to Be
Robert Bowling.
Is Said to Have Been Interested in
Extensive Mining Deals in
Alaska.

The BODY of az unknown man, whi ch
was recovered from the bay near the Pow
ell-street wharf on the 18th of this month
and buried in the potter's field as uniden-
titled, is now supposed to be the remains
Of Robert Dowing, an English mining
man of good family and considerable
means.
On the morning OF the 18th body was
taken from the waters of the bay. The
features were so changed by the action of
the water that identification was impos3i-
Bile, except by the clothes. a sack, which
had presumably been filled with rocks,
had been tied tigh ly around the neck, and
the fact that no valuab!es or money were
di scovered on the body of a weIl-dressed
man lei many TO believe that a murder
had been comm itted. However, a record
OF suicide was added TO Inc Morgue's lis:,
as no mark Of violence were found Oh the
bodv.
On the 10th of this month Robert Dow
ling who had been residing for six weeks
at 1890 Bush street, mysteriously disap-
peared NJ is. Penders. he landlady OF
the hou Sc, noticed the description OF the
dro wned man and came 10 the conclusion
that il was the body OF Dowling. Her
son III ade inquiries concerning the body
which had been recovered, but as bur iai
had already taken place the matter Is
dropped. Inquiries were made by ma ny
as to whether or not the body hadbe n
identified, butup 10 the present time Mrs.
Pendtrs has been the only one TO tbro W
any light upon the matter.
Mrs. Penders said yesterday: "Mr. Dow
ling procured room here about six weeks
ago. From his conversation l have been
Iot, l,n Y,a e1cd
erabe means. He has wife and child in
The East but just where l am unable TO
state. tie received a letter from his vile
asking him when he intended to return,
but | am of the opinion that he sent her
no reply. At times he was of joviaI dis
position, but again he would appear
moody and even melancholy. At times |
have heard HIM speak of having been con-
nected with extensive min ng vent lures,
espe cislly throughout thr Alaskan gold
fields but further thar that | know moth
ing OF his fairs. About three weeks pre-
yious 10 his disappearance he lett here for
four days and wrote me OF his arrival at
his destination, but this time nothing has
been heard of him, although we have
made inquiries OF all who might be in q
position 10 know.
"On the morning OF the 10th of this
month he gave me $40 for his roo NJ rent,
but left the next morning. He carried
hand satchei with him and left nothing
here with the exception of an old pair OF
shoes. The fact OF his not writing TO let
me know whe or not he would return
led me to believe that some harm had
befailen him, but when l read a descrp-
ZION of a man who had been recovered
from The bay on the 17th Of this month
arrived at the conclusion that he had
either been murdered or had committed
suicide, as the description fitted him
| mlnutely.
From his conversation l am of the
opinion that he was in financial difficulty,
bnt could not state positively, and as he
never spoke of an enemy to me we have
become almost convinced that he COM
mltted suicide in a moment of remorse or
desperation.