The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-01-09
DESPERATE SEA SUICIDE
SPRINGS FROM STEAMERS DECK
TO DEATH.
Charles Burke of San Francisco Goes
Insane and Leaves the Claudine-A
Strange Story.

About o'clock Saturday morning,
while the Claudne was approaching
Kawaiahae, a young man named
Charles Burke, aged about 23, jumped
from the forward deck, at the head of
the first boat, into the sea and was
lost. He was undoubtedly insane at
the time.
Stories of the case agree in the
main, but differ in many details. The
men most closely identified with the
tragedy, or who saw most of the cir
cumstances, are: a. Richley, a local
contractor; Mate Weisbarth, Second
Mate Wolter, Captain Cameron and
Purser Beckley, in the order given, of
the Claudine. The part of the story
in which all statements agree is
this:
Burke arrived at Hilo on the bark
Amy Turner, and was introduced by
the captain of that vessel to Purser
BeckIey. He took first class passage
to Honolulu. During the evening he
talked considerable to Richley and to
others, but most of the time he was
on the forward starboard deck reading
novel.
Early in the evening Burke COM
Cameron that the native sailors on the
vessel, who We're engaged with the
boats, were laughing at him. Captain
Cameron took the young man into his
room and told him kindly that the
natives were not laughing at him;
that Hawaiians were naturally very
| jovial and laughed and sang at their
work. This seemed to quiet him and
ha fn hic
! All of the deck men say that Burke
read until about 1880 a. m. At that
time he was seen to get up, turn round
few times nervously on the deck and
| throw some money, as if he wished to
cions of Second Mate Wolter and he
decided to keep an eye on him.
"a short time later" says Wolter.
81 saw the passenger fooling around
the forward boat. This was unusual,
and spoke to Captain Cameron about
| it. We were both on the bridge at the
| time. Captain Cameron remarked
that the fellow might bear watching,
and told me to go down and keep an
eye on him.
when / found Burke he was near
the companionway aft. As soon as he
|
about that money matter? When are
we going to straighten it out?' | saw
then clearly that the man was out of
his head. and started in to humor
him. Come down below said I, 'and
we will fix it up
eve went below and / called the
steward in. 1t was my intention to
lock the door. and, if necessary, to
oh ,1tf hi E -, A a
that time his eyes were dancing and
he was trembling all over. Detecting
my purpose to close him in he made a
break for the companionway and he
gained it ahead of me. He ran out on
deck and then down to the place
where he had been reading.
"All the while he was asking me to
settle and | was trying to persuade
him away from the side of the vessel
| was afraid that he might have ideas
of jumping overheard
"Reaching the forward boat, he ask
ed me to sign a check and settle, OF
something of that sort. At that time
he was talking in a rambling way.
told him | would sign the check and
asked him to come into the captains
room. He would not do that but ad
| Ndlceu TO the uOOf. pretended &c
sign the paper he had given me. Al
about this juncture, Mr.. Richley, an
other passenger, came out of the state
room next door.
Mr. Rchley seemed to know Burk,
and began to talk to him in a friend
ly manner. | drew away, thinking
perhaps he could do something will
the young man. First I went to Cap
tain Cameron and told him what hat
been going on and asked him what
should be done. He told me to cal
Mate Weisbarth and Purser Beckley
Immediately. This / did.
"At that time the young fellow wa,
talking in a loud voice to Mr.. Richie,
and | heard him threaten again tc
jump overheard. SO, as | passed dowI
! arranged to have the second boa
lowered Immediately in case he tried
it. Weisbarth and Beckley were thel
called.
'When I came again on deck tow
Continued on Page Fiye,)