Evening journal., 1908-11-27
MAN MISSING
FROM A BRIDGE
Stranger Disappeared From
Structure Across the
ChriStiana River
MAY HAVE BEEN
A DROWNING CASE

All day yesterday and to-day William
H. Murphy. tender Of the Market street
bridge over the Christiana. nodded at a
lonely looking telescope satchel under the
bench I'm his little office and pondered and
pondered without end This morning he
told the police and relapsed into contents
ment For Mr.. Murphy and the police, the
lonely telescope which still lies under tie
bridge tenders bench. tells a story of
suicide. accident or fight. the first in
cldent Of which came with the appear
ance Of a prosperous but troubled stranger
near the bridge on Wednesday afternoon.
lie came at o'clock and stalked about
the river edge Of the b. and o. freight
yard. staring with interest at the muddy
Christiana without thought OF the white
shirt tail that futtered from beneath his
coat. He carried a packed satchel. and
finally he grew tired and put ii down.
sitting moodily on the low freight house
platform. Then he took his grip and walk
ed to the fence that separates the night
watchman's house from the freight yard.
There he put the satchel on the ground
and looked at the ladder that leads down
TO the water and is used by boatmen to
crawl into and from their boats.
Man Disappeared.
All this was seen by Mr. Murphy as he
peered from the window of his snug en-
closure in the middle of the bridge Mr..
Murphy had been attracted by the mans &
/ futterlng shirt-tail a Thanksgiving eve
anomaly that was Of more than passing
interest.
With a lingering thought OF the lonely
man with the telescope standing so deso-
lately on the rivers edge, Mr.. Murphy
/ answered the call Of a friend on the other
end Of the bridge. When he returned "a
his snuggery moment later the stranger
was gone, but his satchel remained.
Fearsome thoughts came into the
bridgetenders head and down the bridge
he ran scooted down the ladder at the
side Of the night watchman's house, and
peered under the bridge pilings. Not Z
view Of the satchel man was seen TO give
evidence that he might have had liking
for scampering about bridge pilings. MOI
was there a hat floating within sight L
tell Mr.. Murphy that the stranger was al
tho rivers bottom So the bridge ter
der left the satchel he on the wharf abov'
the ladder in the hope that its owner ha,
. wandered around the freight yard an
would return. The telescope remained o
the wharf until o'clock Wednesda
night, and then Night Bridgetender Arm
strong removed it TO the bridge tender
shelter and placed it under a bench
May Be Drowned.
/, All day yesterday the satchel remained
under the bench. Mr. Murphy had foun
in it a parcel of clothing. but nothing (
tell the name or home OF the owner. an
} he had no<eNg to do but think Of tn,
desolate stranger and his Tipping shirt
tail. This morning the satchel we!ghe
e too heavily on his mind, and he told tn
police.
, The man was about IS years old, was c
3 medium height. weighed about 165 pound
e wore a blue suit and black slouch ha
and had no overcoat. That was whs
Mr.. Murphy gathered Of him while peel
ing from the little window in his hous
on the bridge.
e 'He may float up near the bridge in tw
q weeks" said Mr. Murphy this mornin,
pulling thoughtfully at his pipe.