The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-24
FORMER CONSUL HAY
MEETS TRAGIC FATE.
Fell From the Third Story Window
of a New Haven Hotel and Was
Instantly Killed.

New Haven, June A-Adelbert Stone
Hay, consul TO Pretoria. South Africa,
during the more stirring and momentous
stages OF the Boer war. the oldest son OF
Hon. John Hay secretary af state In
President Mci<inley's cabinet. and one of
the younger as well as one of the most
prominent OF the sons of Yale, met
tragic death an this city at 2:30 o'clock
yesterday morning.
The manner OF the death. its victim, and
the fact that the tragedy occurred on
the very eve OF Yale's commencement in
which the young man by virtue OF his
class office was 10 De leader--these sad
conditions have cast an unmistakable
COON over the gladdest OF Yale seasons,
MATTER OF MYSTERY.
Mr.. Hay went TO death the full details
OF which will never be known. shortly
before 230 O'Clock this morning he fell
from window I'm the third story of the
New Haven house, where he had rooms
for commencement week, to the Chapel
street pavement, fully sixty feet below
The frightful fall resulted IN instant
death and within fifteen minutes the body
had been identified as that OF young Hay
How IL all happened Immediately became
a matter Of speculation on the part OF the
throng OF curious spectators who gather
ed and a subject OF mournful inquiry for
the classmates and friends OF the promis-
ing young man.
Half a dozen physicians were unable TO
restore the life. which had, apparently,
instantly flown. and the warm body wait
ed it's disposition at the orders OF the
Coroner's Deputy, Medical Examiner
Bartlett.
The official promptly pronounced II
\. a
ported 10 his superior, Coroner Mix. The
body was removed as soon as possible
10 the rooms OF a nearby undertaken.
where IL awaited instructions from the af-
ficted family.
Repeated efforts 10 locate Secretary Hay
by wire were futile until the early morn
ing hours when a request from the father
reached Mr.. Seth Moseley. the proprietor
OF the hotel 20 care for the body until
the members OF the family could reach
town
MOVEMENTS OF MR. HAY
Meanwhile the sensation occasioned by
the tragedy continued. Every movement
OF young Hay was traced I'm an effort TO
penetrate the uncertainties OF the awful
affair. II was learned that the young
man on May 20 left Washington with his
mother and two sisters for Newburn. -.
H., the summer home OF Secretary Hay.
Last week he left New Hampshire for
New York, where he spent some days.
, lie arrived in New Haven last evening in
time for dinner. and went immediately 20
the New Haven house, where he was as
signed 10 Room No. Al, third floor, direct
ly over the Chapel street entrance TO the
hotel Young Hay was one OF the van
guard OF the academic class OF Yale 'sS.
lie had come to his old college home as
a member of his class TTicnnial committee
and came early 10 assist his colleagues on
committee I'm preparing for the festivities
OF commencement week i'm general and Tor
the class supper In particular He took
dinner with handful OF his classmates.
and at o'clock hurried TO the Hyperion
Theatre, where he witnessed the evening
performance.
lie spent quite an hour I'm the hotel cor
rdors and smoking room after the thea
tre. and soon after midnight retired 10
his room, remarkiug to the hotel clerk
that he was sleepy and leaving n call
for o'clock yesterday morning. He was
not seen again until his body came whirl-
ing through the air 10 its destruction
two and half hours later. The hotel
where the unfortunate young man was
nuartered faces on Chapel street the prin-
cipal thoroughfare Of the city. and is al
most under the caves or tho university
BUT ONE SAW THE FALL
There was a solitary spectator 10 the
terrible tragedy, laborer on the city
man saw the form of a man rushing
through the space. An instant later there
was a sickening thud and the form lay
PROSTATE directly in front of the main
hotel entrance
The Mortified laborer rushed TO the spot
and his shouts brought others
The usual crowd gathered. In Il were
several belated Yale graduates. They
bent over the body. One of them--Julian
Mason. a son of the late Edward c. Mason
of Chicago. and classmate OF young
Hay. drew back. and, horror-stricken,
cried: MY God. it's Del Hay"
by this time the hotel clerk had reached
the scene and made the Identification COM
plete.
The body was clad In pajamas. on
the window-sil OF the room occupied by
young Hay was found a partly consumed
cigarette One the floor near the win
dow was 2 ring worn by the victim
His clothing had been neatly arranged
and the bedclothes we're drawn back
The bed. however. had not been occupied
Here the mystery becomes intangible.
GENERAL sUPPosITIoN.
The popular theory seems To have II
that the young man, having prepared for
bed. thought to indulge In a good night