The sun., 1898-02-24
IIemmed in BY Inrushing Waters
When Steam,r CaHned.
PROBABLY GEORGE II. SMITH
Letters FOund ON Corpse Dis
close Who He Was---COsNner
Will Hold IN Inquest.

One of the passengers aboard the i'll
fated steamer Ericsson which was cap
sized at the mouth Of the Christians
river during the storm Of last week los,
his life. E..
The body was found late yesterday af
tcrnoon on the lower deck OF the sunkei
vessel by Captain George +. Evans o.
the tug Harry Schaubel, Jr., which has
been engaged in towing the lighters tt
and from the Ericsson in the work OF
removing the cargo.
The body was in good state OF pre-
servation and was that OF a man appar
emily 80 years old, medium build
round shonldered, Aorid complexion
smooth face, brown hair mixed with gray
and the front of the head slightly bald
The body was clothed in full snit OF
clothes, consisting Of Prince Albert
coat of black cloth, black vest, light trous.
els with pen lines of black. In The
pockets of the coat was found several let.
tiers and papers, and in his vest was a
silver watch attached to a gold chain.
The position OF the body in the cabin
indicated that the man had placed a life
preserver on and had endeavored to
reach the deck, but when the vessel
careened the inrlsh Of water dashed him
back into the cabin and held him there
until he was unable to struggle. He was
penned in and drowned in the confines
of the cabin.
Captain Evans. who resides at kO7
Richmond street, Philadelphia has, when
ever his duties permitted, gone aboard
the Ericsson and searched every portion
above water for bodies, and yesterday
afternoon his persistency was rewarded.
At the time Of the finding Of the body
he was in the company Of Captain
Charles Wright, of the tug Cav, and to-
gether they pulled the body from the
cabin and laid it on the deck OF the
vessel
Captain Grace, of the Ericsson, was
called for the purpose Of identifying the
body, but was unable to do so He
stated, however, that his wife had re.
Gently received letter IN which she was
requested to ask the captain to look for a
body answering the description OF the
one found yesterday afternoon.
Deputy Coroner Chandler was notified
and took possession of the body and the
papers heretofore mentioned, and will
hold an inquest.
The body is beyond doubt that of
George Fl. Smith, Of Philadelphia, as
the letters and papers found upon his
person all hear that name. The man
was in all probability connected with
some circus or side. show, as a photo
graph found on his person show him
prisiding over u lung tester on circus
ground.
One of the letters is evidently from
his daug hter. for in it he is addressed as
dear papa" The only signature to this
letter is the name "Nellie."
1t was thought at first that the body
was that OF = man named Murphy, Of
Baltimore, but as Murphy was a man Of
larger statue it cannot be him. az the
body at the morgue is only Of medium
height, and not what might BE- called
above the average build.
The agents of the Ericsson line in
Baltimore were also notified, but they
wired the request that the Wilmington
authorities take care Of the remains, al
though it was thought the body found
was that OF Baltimore man.
The work Of removing the cargo from
The Ericsson was completed late yester.
day afternoon and a wrecking crew from
New York is expected to arrive today
to raise the vessel from the position she
now occupies, which will not require
any great length OF time.
'fhc water in the river has raised con.
siderably during the past two days and
he list of the vessel is considerably less
han it was the first Of the week.
Christian Endeavor Rally.
The Christian Endeavor Union of this
'ity, held rally in Second Baptist
Church yesterday afternoon. Tie
program was carried out with excel.
ency, and the meeting was opened
with short prayer by Rev. Elmer W. |
lowell, followed by several selections Of
'ocal and instrumental music. Piano
olo, Miss Viola Dave; recitation, Eenor
duet and chorus. Misses
Nary and Virginia Sincox; recitation,
Our Pledge Miss Eva Bowen; piano