The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-08
THROUGH THE BRIDGE.
Supposed Fate of Ed Delehanty.
Noted Ball Player.


of the body of man, now believed TO
be Ed Delehanty the famous baseball
player, who fell through the open draw
of the bridge last Thursday night. The
then unknown man was put off a Pull
man car on train No. on the Michigan
Central at Bridgeburg. He started to
walk across the bridge to Buffalo.
Kingston, the night watehman on the
bridge. ordered him to return to shore.
There were angry words between the
two men but it is not known that blows
were exchanged. According to Kings
toms story the man supposed to be
Delehanty started to run toward the
American end of the bridge. The draw
had been opened to allow a boat to
pass, he says, and the man fell into the
river and was drowned.
superintendent Bennell of the Pull
man Car company said today:
Il found in the valise left by the pas
senger put off No. 6 a season pass to
the Washington baseball park. made
out in the name of Ed Delehanty. L
found in the suit case suit of clothes
with Delehanty'S name on it, also the
name of the tailor in Washington who
made it.
There was a pair of baseball shoes in
the satchel. I wrote at once to the tall
or in Washington and learned the ad-
dress of Delehanty's family. 1 wrote
Delehanty's wife in Washington, on re-
ceipt of this information, telling her of
tie CIRCUMSTANCES, ana Telling ne1 De-
lieved that her husband was drowned off
the bridge on the night in question:
LEFT TEAM AT DETROIT.
Washington, d. c., July S.-Edward
Delehanty, the right fielder of the Wash
ington Ball club, has completely dlsap-
peared from public view and not a word
has been heard from or about him since
last Thursday, when he slipped away
from the ball team at Detroit.
When the club reached Cleveland on
June 25 Delehanty strayed from the
path a discreet ba1lplayer usually fol-
lows, and he hit up a strong pace until
last seen in Detroit. He grieved over
the fact that he received no mail from
his wife at St. Louis or Chicago, and
when he reached Cleveland and still
there was no intelligence from her, he
turned to drink. The players convinced
him that he should join the team
on it's trip to Detroit. hoping that he
would be all right after the boat ride,
but once in Detroit he maintained the
pace he set in Cleveland.
Delehanty's mother and two little
brothers left Cleveland to care for him
and his mental condition became grave
to his fellow-players. Hot baths wer q
resOrted to to straighten the big fielder
he took an oath of abstinence. but he
broke this last "Wednesday.
He talked of self-destruction and even
went so far as to drive Pitcher Lee out
OIL MS room WIFI d Dig kHlle- II WAS
apparent to all the players that Dele
hanty's nervous condition was very
much distrbed and fears were enter
tanned that he might do himself or 9TH
ers bodily harm. The players kept
watch over him and tried to improve his
condition. His mother and small brother
remained at the Oriental hotel Thurs
day afternoon while the elder of the two
brothers and the club went to the ball
grounds.
As soon as they were out of sight
Delehanty disappeared without saying
a word to any one, and took with him
only the personal belongings that he
wore at the time. The other clothes and
his uniform were left in his room. Pres
ident Postal, of the local CLUB, mas peeh
searching for Delehanty in Detroit,
and the Washington Post and Mrs.
Delehanty, Edwards wife, have tele-
graphed to every point where 1t was
thought he might have gone, without
learning anything. -
Philadelphia on Tuesday to meet him
Philadelphia on Teusday to meet him
in this city on Friday, as the team
would return home that night She
came here only to ascertain that ne hau
not ioined the team when it left Detroit
BEFORE he telegraphed, however, he
wrote a letter to his wife in which he
inclosed an accident insurance poncy
with the comment that he hoped that
something dreadful would happen 10 tne
train on which he rode.
Several points of his conduct indicate
that he has taken his life, for he was
said to be verging on insanity the Gay
he disappearedI He left his mother and
brothers in Detroit without money 10
nav their bills or buy transportatloa
hack to Cleveland. Manager LOTUS set
tied these matters. and the family left
for their home.
DEI,EHANTY'S CAREER
Ed DeIehanty was one of the greatest
hall nlav vers ever turned out from Ohio,
being a native of Cleveland He began
his career as an exponent or the nation
al game at Wheeling, w. Va 1t was In
Philadelphia that he made his first ap-
pearance in fast company, playing sec
ond base His remarkable quicl-iess IN
getting out into the field for balls out OF
regular fielderS' reach resulted IN MS
being made an Outfielder- He was one
of the mainstays of the Quakers until
1901 when he jumped his contract along
with AL Orth, Harry Wolverton ana
lack Townsend. and cast his fortune
with the Washington team of the Amer
ican league. His work with washington
last season was such as to cause John
T Brush of New York to cast out his
graphing irons. Delehanty nnaly
signed a contract at big ngures 10 play
With the Giants. Four thousand dollars
advance money was paid to Delehanty,
and a winter was put in playing the
ponies Luck was against the Dig Iei-
low. and when the peace committee
awarded him back to Washington and
to return the $4,000 advanced by New
York his baseball heart must have been
broken.
Nothing like the Delhanty of his
mast clever, ears has been in evidence
in his 1908 work with Washington. fe
was anxious to get away. but the Wash
ington club held on to him in the hone
that he would round into his oldtime
shape They were doomed to disap-
pointnent, however as the big feiioW
has been ont of the game for some time
still drawing an enormous salary. Fit
and well Delehanty had but few peers
in the matter of batting. Just once
during the past eleven years has lie
fnishec, lower than ninth place. In 1899
he landed the batting championship Of
the National league with the figures .4oS.