Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-07-17
AN ACCIDENT
OR SUICIDE Z?
Captain Of North Beach Life Saw.
ing Station Found Drowned
In Water Tank.

Captain John Andrew Jackson Hud-
son, captain of North Beach Life Saw
ing Station, was found dead Tuesday
morning last in the cistern attached to
the Station. A coroner's jury, composed
of twelve citizens of Ocean City, sum-
moned by James A. Mumford, magis-
trate, went to North Beach Station and
after viewing the remains and looking
into the matter Of Captain Hudson's
death thoroughly, rendered verdict of
suicide.
Captain Hudson had been connected
with the United States Life Saving
Service ever since the organization of
the Service. He was brave seaman,
a thorough disciplinarian, and was great
ly devoted to the Life Saving Service.
He was member of the Masonic Order,
was an Odd Fellow and good citizen of
Worcester County. 1t was his boast
that he never voted anything but a
Democratic ticket and he was proud
that he was namesake of one of the
fathers of Democracy.
The North Beach Life Saving Station
is lonely spot 10 miles below Ocean
City, and at this time of the year when
the Life Savers are off duty, but two men
stay at the station.
Capt. Hudson had been worried by
debts which he was unable to meet and
had been complaining of i'll health for
several years. had been very despond-
ent for some time past. and Monday
night at O'Clock James 7. CULLEN, the
only other man at the station, said
when he got supper for the captain the
latter seemed more depressed than usual
and noticed that his head dropped
frequently with spasmodic jerks.
Mr.. CULLEN had often heard Captain
Hudson say he had troubles enough to
kill him. and when he went from his
house to the station early in the morn
ing to serve Captain Hudson's break
fast and could not find him, he i'm
mediately became suspicious and began
a search. He found Captain Hudson
face down in his night clothes in the
water tank.
A letter to his wife and children at
Berlin, written Saturday night, made
no mention of his intention to commit
suicide although he stated significantly
at the end of the letter that things were
going badly with him and he did not
know when he would get home again.
The family of Captain Hudson and
many friends as well, do not believe he
committed suicide. They say he was in
very poor health and had been subject
to attacks of vertigo. They believe he
had oac cf these attacks while he was
leaning over the tank in the night to
get a drink of water, and died of heart
failure. One of his friends said that he
knew Captain Hudson preferred this
water and he had frequently gone to
the tank at night to get drink.
/ AdDtdui was Us yNoAS viz Sos =
January and had been in the life saving
service for % years. lie had been cap
tain of the North Beach station for l9
years and was one of the most popular
and hospitable captains in the service.
He is survived by widow and eight
children, the youngest of which is only
seven years old.
Captain Hudson had a residence on
North Beach which he occupied fol
many years. but recently he moved his
family to Berlin that they might be
more comfortably situated. The news
of his death was a great shock not only
to his wife and children but to the entire
community.
! Funeral services were held Thursday
afternoon at 2.3O O'Clock and interment
was made in Evergreen Cemetery.