The Portland daily press., 1899-10-12
SUICIDE HALL.
Place Where Page Girl
Killed Herself.
One Of New YOrk's Most Notorious
Dives.
Had Been Living With a
Sailor Named Ryan.
Real Mrs. Ryan Appeared and
Caused Trouble.

Yesterdays New York Herald had the
following particulars Of the death of Miss
Lillian Page formerly Of this city who
committed suicide Wednesday.
"MoGurk's Suicide Hall added more
tragedy to its sombre history yesterday
morning, when two young women swal-
lowed their dimes worth Of cArbolic acid.
One of them. Madge Davenport, died,
and the other, Mamie White, has been
transferred Co Bellevue hospital Th e
record of this Bowery death chamber
since March last Ia now three successes
and seven failures.
"Drug stores and dives like McGurk's
are conveniently situated In the Bowery.
There are always apotheoariss whose
greed as well as their will consents to
supply the unfortunate with cheap
nepanthe. Both of the young women de-
cided at about the same time that life
was not worth living.
| "Madge Dayenport was known as the
wife of Robert Ryan, with whom she
lived at No. IL First street.
"There came to the furnished room
house where the couple dwelt severe
looking person vino asserted that she was
the only Mrs. Robert Ryan. She said
TINT Ryan had married her in Boston sew
eral years ago. The two women calmly
talked over this matrimonial compiled.
ton. and finally the Davenport girl sug-
gested that Robert return to Boston.
Ryan had been a sailor, and his affections
did not seem to be bounded by the mar
row confines Of New York, Boston OF any
other port.
| 1.-THE original Mrs. Ryan, according
to the disconnected story told by Madge
Davenport's friends, appeared In New
York on Sunday. The girl announced
that the sailor had grown tired of her ana
tntsnded to 20 to Boston, She went
from saloon to saloon and her grief grew
with her potations. She met Mamie
White. whom she had known slightly,
for she had been here only a week, and
they spoke Of their common sorrow.
Mamie Whits had had quarrel with a
sailor known as Connolly.
| "Ihey went to drug store snort
distance from MoGurk's and purchased
carbolic acid. Ryan, who had gone into
the drug store after the women. warned
the proprietor not to sell them the acid
a. they had ammo 1nced their intention OF
com uniting suicide. Remarks of this
kind from a befuddled sailor do not carry
much weight In the Bowsry. Every body
talks suicide more or less down there, and
McG urk keeps q hall especially for the
accommodation of those who luxuriate
al har in tha. al AL lid.
about IL.
"Out on the sidewalk in front of Nc.
Gurk's stands soft voiced barker, who
desoants nightly upon the attractions of
the resort. Walk right ln,' he says.
This is Suicide Hall, made famous by
the number of suicides committed here.
More suicides here than any other place
in New York. Yes, come right In. The
place is crowded.
''Yet Tor all the open references to sui
eide, Bart Connolly. the manager of
this Law life Cabaret du Meant, keeps
sharp lookout for acid bottles. 1t is well
to have the name of Suicide Hall, for it
attracts the morbldiy curious, but 1t is
inconvenient to have women die in t he
place. These girls were not under sus-
picion, Mamie White was known for her
witty talk and her continual good
spirits. and the other seemed to be thor
oughly happy in the gloomy surroundings
Of McGurk's. Sailors were drinking
health to the rude pictures of various
naval heroes on the walls. The girls en-
tered MoGurk's at about three O'Clock
yesterday morning and were speedily
surrounded by a group of sailors.
We'll, Mamie, said the Davenport
girl they can't stop us now, can they?
You know what.welagreed to do.
"Thero wGsla nod from the White girl,
and they swallowed their potions OF acid
and fell forward upon the table. There
was quick shift of scene. The walters
yelled Another onel' and then 'Two
morel' The manager turned out all the
lights except one The strong armed
servitors pushed the crowd into the street
| and carried the screaming women
| through the long dark hall to the door
way of an adjoining building. All who
take poison at McGurk's are DEALT with
in the same summary way. 1t is consid-
cred gross breach of Bowery hospitality
to die In the place. The sailors shook
their fists at the suave manager.
policeman Woodbridge heard the
moaning of the women and hurried them
into the drug store where they bought
the poison. The Davenport woman was
dead and the other, who had evidently
not taken SO large q dose, was mumbling
from her burned lips. Both were con-
yeyed to Bellevue hospital in an ambn-
lance, one bound for the morgus the other
fol tho suicide ward prisoner. 1t is
likely that the White girl will recover.
"Madge Dayeuport's real name 10
said to have been Lillian Pags. She had
a brother, George Page. living at No.