The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-13
Commanded Howard of Mer-
chants and Miners Line.
Act Thought to Be Result Of Brood
ing Over Collision.
After the Suicide, Steamer Put About
and Returned TO Boston.

Boston, Jan. 13.-The steamer Howard,
which left here yesterday on her regular
trip to Baltimore and Norfolk, passed
Hull this forenoon and steamed toward
this port. Her flag was displayed Ut half
mast.
Later it trsnspired that Captain John
T.. Taylor Of tine Howard committed
suicide by shooting himself through the
head at midnight, as the result of having
been in collision with the tug job Will
son. in which two Of the-creR Here
drowned some time ago. The Howard is
ono of the steamships of the Merchants d
Miners Transportation Company. Captain
Tsiyor resided at Chatham.
Later dispatches say that the Howard,
which left here at o'clock yesterday
afternoon for Norfolk and Baltimore
returned to her berth at Battery Wharf at
II O'Clock today with her colors at half
mast on account Of the suicide of Captain
John C.Taylor of the vessel, by shooting.
Captain Taylor had just come OF his
watch and entered his room leading on
the bin, at about midnight, when sud-
denly a sharp report OF q revolver was
heard aud several of the officers and pas
sengers on fastening to the captains
room found that he had shot himself
through the head. The wounded man
died few moments. later. The deceased
was about So years of age and had been
connected with this company for about
80 years. He leaves wife and grown up
daughter who reside at the Hotel Warren
in Roxbury. The only reason given tor
Captain Taylor's act Is that he was
greatly worried over an accident which
occurred on his last trip from this port.to
Baltimore, near Fort Carroll, In tho
| Palpisco river, when the Howard collfded
| with and sunk the tug boat Job 4. Wilson
| OF Richmond, Va, and the engineer OF
| the tug, James Saunders, and the steward.
Charles q. Chsppell, were drowned. This
was Captain Taylor's first accident In his
30 years experience, when loss OF life
resulted.
The accident was due to confusion OF
signals but it has been noticed that Cap
tain Taylor had appeared very mucn
depressed since the collision.
The Howard was off Gayhead in Vine
yHrd Sound when Captain Taylor took
bis.life, and chief officer John Montelesh,
whose watch Ii then was, put the snip
about and returned to Boston.
At noon Captain Bragdon, of the Har.
Dor police, accompanied by the medical
examiner visited the steamer and viewed
the remains of the dead captain. They
will be be removed to his late residence
this afternoon. The Howard will prob
ably resume her passage later In the day
in chsrge OF Mate Montelesh.
CAPTAIN Taylor was well known in this
city, .haying been in command OF the
steamers Blackstone, Mcclellan and Alle-
ehany, sailing between this port and Bal
timore. lie was on OF the oldest captains
i'm the fleet and was frequently assigned Ia
the first command OF new ships. He wai
transferred to the fleet sailing from Bos'
ton about FIVE years ago ana has since
been in command of the Miller, Essex and
Howard.
The deceased was about b3 years old.
He had q brother in the Providence poles
department., who died several years ago
Captain Taylor leaves . wife and dsugn'
ter who reside at the Warren In Roxbury,
Mass.
Friends OF Captain Taylor In Provi
dence account for his suicide as being ths
result Of enlargement from bis daughter.