New-York tribune., 1902-10-01
SUICIDE ON KEARSARGE.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER BRONAUGH
SHOOTS HIMSELF-ONE TRAGEDY
OF SEVERAL IN NAVY.

With troubles of a financial domestic
nature, far as his friends knew; in perfect
health and apparently in a happy frame of
mind Lieutenant Commander William V. Bron-
augh, executive officer of the battleship Kear-
sarge. committed suicide in his cabin the
ship at the Brooklyn Lavy yard few minutes
after noon yesterday. His brains were blown
out by the bali from large navy revolver. and
death instantaneous.
Lieutenant Commander Bronaugh. after
year as navigator the battleship Massachu-
setts. was transferred to the Kearsarge ex-
ecutive officer only few days ago. He seemed
cheerful and took up his duties in a vigorous
manner. Yesterday morning he directed the
men in the various parts of the ship. A few
minutes before noon he stopped on the deck 10
chat with several fellow officers. Then he went
TO his room. remarking that he would prepare
for luncheon. Five minutes later the whole ship
was thrown into commotion by the report of
a revolver and the rumOr following quickly,
that one of the officers had killed himself.
Those who ran into Lieutenant Bronaugh's
cabin found him lying the floor in a pool OF
blood. DIR. McCIung. surgeon Of the Kearsarge
was quickly the spot. and found the man
dead Rear Admiral Barker. commandant Of the
yard. was informed of the tragedy. and he in
turn informed the Navy Department. in Wash
ington guard of honor placed in front
later removed to an undertaking establishment
where il is being neld for instructions as 70 its
disposition.
yard. gave the following explanation for the
suicide:
There is an epidemic of suicide In the navy
surely as there was ever an epidemic OF
fever. The man has probably been thinking
OF the other suicides. and, then, in an un-
guarded moment, a desire 10 try II seized him,
he lost his mental balance, and IL was all over
in moment"
Lieutenant Commander Bronaush was born
in Kentucky, and entered the Naval Academy
from there in 1873. He served on many OF the
smaller vessels i'm the navy, and in 1900 was
assigned 10 the Brooklyn Navy Yard. in the
equipment department. While there he and his
family took prominent part in the social life
"A year ago he went back To sea on the heaI-
sarge. Lieutenant Bronaugh leaves d WHO"
and a daughter
Mrs Bronaugh wife of the dead naval officer,
Is at present staying with her daughter. who Is
q pupil at Miss Roundss private school NO.
90 Clinton-ave. Brooklyn. She collapsed when
DR.. McClung. surgeon of the Kearsarge. broke
the news 10 her last night
Although the naval officers were retcent
about discussing Lieutenant Commander
Bronaughs suicide, one OF them, who declined
10 allow his name To be used. said that with
out doubt the officer was mentally unbalanced,
due 70 hts extremely arduous duties in the re-
cent naval manGuvres.
Bronaugh was navigating officer Of the
Massachusetts" said the officer "and was
duty night and day. He worried "a great deal
over the risks he was oblised-So take with his
snip IN n +igatllg strange Ch. SIels. and was
constantly pOrtng over his charts and instru-
ments. After 10 was over he was physically
exhausted and since had been troubled with
malarial fever This probably unbalanced his
mind
Just before Lie Itenant Commander BrOnaugh
went 10 his room yesterday he received a mes
sage Ihe other officers refuse 20 say what the
nature OF this communication was but declare
that IL was OF a private nature and could in no
way account for the suicide
About Two manths ago yeoman committed
suicide on the Montgomery AZ the navy ward
but no officers have killed themselves there for
a number OF years. Several officers have COM
nlitteed suicide foreign stations however
within the last few months
Within few weeks Chaplain William r Nor
Fison committed suicide in the Naval Hospital
az Chelsea, Mass, and Lieutenant John r Nor
Iis TOOK his life aboard the OLYMPIA Boston
Both were attached TO that vessel