Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-24
BRIGHAM'S DEATH.
Some Question About Demise Of Mas.
sachusetts Man,

Portland, Me-, Aug. 23.-The Even
ing Express says, tonight:
Whether or not George H. Brigham
of South birmingham. did in reality
commit suicide by jumping from the
steamer Calvin Austin on her recent
trip from St. John, as the dispatches
from Boston show. is not believed in
that city. there is one man who ,v,s
aboard the boat who is positive i'm his
belief that brigham came to his death
at that time and place. This person ia
Henry S. Bridges of St. John. a sales
man for the Canadian Paint Co. of that
city. who with another travelling COM
paniOn shared Il StaterOom with Brig
ham. Bridges ground for so believing
was told in his interview with the Ex-
press, yesterday. After reading the
Boston papers in which the story an
pcareG that Brigham was a monO-
maniac on the subject of suicide and
that there was no doubt but that he
would turn up again alive as he had
done before after his reported death.
Bridges came to the Express and re-
peated his story with more detail in
such :, manner as would seem to leave
no doubt as to the death of Brigham.
He felt that the case had been made
light of in some quarters, and said that
he saw Brigham after the Calvin Aus
tin left Passport. where it was thought
he might have stayed ashore.
bridges who is Mason first met
brigham who WAS also Mason
through the medium of that order
They Travelled together from Halifax
and hoarded the Calvin Austin togeth-
cr at st. John where with another man.
Michael Cleary, they shared a state
room having three berths in it. The
Austin left st. John. Wednesday morn
ing and put III ut Eastrort that evcn-
ing where she lay at the dock some
time loading freight. There the three
men wnt ashore and visited some of
the sardine factories and came aboard
the boat later. The Austin left East
port n 6 o'clock Thursday morning.
and bridges knew that Brigham did
not remain ashore ut that time because
he took breakfast with the latter on
board the boat. Bridges saw him as
late as o'clock. Thursday morning
three hours after the Austin had left
ner wharf ut Passport. brigham was ut
that time going abaft and was just
going under the rome that is placed to
prevent passengers from going farther
in that direction. Hridges called to him
and asked whore he was going. "NO-
where" said Brigham. Bridges tried to
persuade him to go below with him.
but he refused. No one saw more of
him after that The officers were noti-
fled and a thorough search made of
every nook and corner of the Ausin.
There were several of those aboard
that were likewise Masons and they
Nude every effort to locate the missing
man. When tho Austin reached Port
land. bridges tcleSra phed Boston, but
got no reply.
The first that he knew that it was not
believed that brigham was in reality
dead was when he read the Boston
papers. Then he told his story to the
Express Bridges became very friendly
with Brigham on the trip and the lat
ter confdcd to him his family troubles.
He told the story of his separation
from his wife. and laid it to the inter-
vention of her sister who, he said, had
hated him from the time he was mar
ried. He was depressed and Respondent
and talked at times like one insane.
Often he made the statement that he
had but little time to live. and twice
he tried to put into effect the intention
to end his life.
On both those times Bridges was
near him and drew him back from the
rail. Indeed he was with him con
SANITY. fearing that he would do that
very thing.
HE WIS Il broken man." said Bridges
again, and there is not the slightest
doubt that his body is in the ocean at
this time. He cannot have gone ashore
for saw him three hours after we left
Eastport."