The Washington herald., 1908-02-17
TWO MARINES DROWN
One Victim Probably Son of
Congressman SteenerSOn.
EITHER SUICIDE OR ACCIDENT
Press Dispatches Suggest SeIf-de-
struCtiOn, but Private Message In
timates QuHrrel-Steenerson Grad
uRte of George Washington Law
SehOOI-Crack Football Player.

There were drowned yesterday after
noon in Narragansett Bay. off Rhode ISL
and. from "a tug boat two men. believed
TO be Private Benjamin T. Steenerson. OF
the Marine Corps. son OF Representative
Halyor Steenerson. of Minnesota, and
welT known in Washington as a football
player. and Private Mcintosh. OF the
same company.
That the men committed suicide is con-
veyed in "A press dispatch from Newport
r. J. Representative Steenerson is in
receipt Of telegrams which state that the
Identification of one Of the dead as his
son is not positive, and intimating that
the companion was pushed overheard
during a quarrel, and that the supposed
''Steenerson" also lost his life in an ef-
fort 10 rescue.
Press Dispatch Account.
The following is the account given in
| press dispatches:
"A member Of the United States Ma
rine Corps and companion in civilian
dress, who is thought 70 De another
marine. committed suicide this afternoon
By jumping from the tug Annie r. Wood
Of Providence. Capt. + w Rich. on
which they had asked for a sail about
lower NaTragansett Bay.
THE tug was bound from Newport TO
Fort GrebIe. Dutch Island. As the two
men were at the wharf when the boat
was casting off. Capt. Rich permitted
them 10 go with him when they asked
for the chance.
'On reaching Conanicut Point. the
north end of Conanicut Island. both men
suddenly jumped into the water. The
civilian Immediately disappeared. but the
marine swan about for a time.
The tug was stopped and an attennt
was made to rescue the marine. When
the deckhands grasped hold Of the collar
of the uniform coat he slipped his arms
/ from the sleeves and sank below the
surface or the water and was not seen
again.
From the description given. it is be-
heved that the two men who took their
lives are Privates Steenerson and Nc
Intosh. both on leave from the naval
training station. Private Stenerson is
thought al the naval station to be a son
Of Congressman Steenerson. of Mime
sofa"
Accident Is Intimated.
Il dispatch was received by Represent
ative Steenerson last night from Com
mandant Creecy. of the naval station.
saying his son had been accidentally
drowned. He wired for further particu-
lars, and was later informed that there
was doubt as TO the identity Of the
drowned men.
At late hour last night the bodies had
not been recovered.
Benjamin Gilbert Steenerson. the SUD-
posed victim, was a graduate OF the law
class Of 1907 Of George Washington Uni
Versity
He was born in CroooI.ston. MINI, twen-
ty-four years ago After attending Shat
tuck Military Academy. he came 10
Washington with his father in 1904 and
entered George Washington
He at once became prominent in ath-
letics. making the varsity football team
He captained the eleven in 1905 and 1906.
His position was quarter back.
Steenerson took an active part in class
politics and in debating. He was a men,
Der of the Columbian Debating Society.
and was sergeant-at-arms of his class.
SteenerSOn was also a member of the
Delta Tau Delta Fraternity
After graduating from George Washing
ton, Steenerson went to Minnesota where
he practiced law for a short time. In
October he enlisted in the Marine Corps