The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-04-17
May BE
BODY OF
JOHNSON

A body thought TO be that OF missing
sailor was found noating In the Provi-
derce river, yesterday. Charles Johnson
OF New Haven, a deckhand and fireman
OF board the oyster dredge Henry c.
Rowe OF that city mySteriously dissp-
rcsred about ten weeks ago. 1t is thought
nc me- his death In the Providence river.
The body was very much the worse for
tue action Of the water, and with features
almost unrecognizable was discovered by
two Fall River men. John Sullivan OF l72
BI6rch street and Charles Hardy OF rz
Qlequechang street who happened TO be
alhing along The river front at that
hour.
They notified the Third police station
AM Patrolman Darcy. who was AZ the
station proceeded TO the place and Medi-
cal Examiner Pesram was notified
through the station. DR. Pegram view
cd the body in the water at the spot as
is required by law. He then had II re-
rnved 10 the morgue OF Undertaken
Thomas r. Monahan on Wickenden street,
where he made careful examination la
ter.
The body was clad In a suit OF black
chsviot OF heavy texture. black shoes and
heavy blue sweater In one of the pockets
was found q gold filled hunting case
watch, the hands ~ which pointed TO
1907. The timepiece was enclosed in a
hard rubber case. II was called the New
Eva. and was made in the United States
The number OF the case was A7,21 and
that on the works is 4.li7,6lo
In a pocket was found card OF the
Olive Candy store, Main street, Warren.
No money was found on the body, a small
rute book that dd not contain anything
that would assist in establishing the iden-
ti;y OF the dead man was found also.
The general description OF the dead
man TALES with that OF the missing New
Esven deck hand, Johnson.
The dredger was tied off Joseph olney
q Sons wharf the right OF Saturday, Feb
s. The crew went ashore that night ana
oruised about the various open posts on
South Main and South Water streets in
that district until nearly time for their
closing.
two OF the crew. Peter Meston and Will
liam Augusky. stepped into one OF the
open doors on South Main street at about
ij:sO. and there found Johnson. who they
reported later. was evidently drinking
heavily.
Come ahead on board" advised Mes
;9n. when they started 10 leave, "1ll he
o, erboard before long" Johnson II said
~ have replied. Failing 70 persuade h'ro
20 accompany them. the two sailors left
nd went aboard.
u hnson never appeared on the oyser
boat again.
The oyster dredser belongs 10 the New
haven oyster company. one OF the larg-
est owners and lessees OF oyster beds In
Sew England.
The Henry c. Rowe was originally built
for small excursion steamer, and last
summer piled between Fall River and
Mount Hope Park.
She was then purchased by the oyster
con pany and fitted VI as dredger.
Tho Rowe II n somewhat peculiarly con-
s,ructed vessel I'm that che has deck
house that covers up almost all the entire
dock and Is fush with the rail on the
sidc
As she lay tied up al her dock, three or
four feet from the caplog. II would be
yec essary for man attempting 10 board
her, to jump from the dock 10 the top OF
the deckhouse which would be some
what difficult feat for a sober man. IL is
believed Johnson tried 20 board the craft,
despite his assertion that he would be
soon overheard, missed his footing and
was drowned beside the steamer.