The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-01
PBRISHES ALONE
CALLING FOR help
Robert Slater Falls from the
Dock and browns.
EFFECTS ARE FOUND ON WHARF
Leaves Home to Go Fishing, and
Body Is Found Ia Eastern Branch.
Cries Heard by Passersby, Who
Are Unable 20 Locate the UHfOFtu-
nate Man in the Darkness.

Robert Slater. twenty-three years old
was the 5='y actor in the tragedy in
which he lost his life in Eastern Branch
late Saturday night As though led by the
hand OF fate. the man walked TO a spot
on the river bank where he was alone.
and when his end came the nearest person
was blocks away.
How long Slater chung 10 one OF the
piles supporting the wharf from which
he fell wiz never be known. but Il was
only d few minutes before the cold water
chilled his body. A heavy overcoat which
he wore weighted him down
Although az. excellent swimmer, he was
unable 10 cope with the odds against him,
and after crying for help and receiving
no encouragement from me echoes Of his
own voice. he gave up the fight, and the
warer closed over his head
Body IL Found.
a tin bucket containing fish bait. q
newspaper. and two hshhooks we're found
on the wharf by policemen a few minutes
after dsybreak yesterday morning Twelve
hours later the body Of Slater was
brought TO the surface by graphing hooks
and q policeman was detailed 20 notify
the widow
Mrs Slater VAS found in her home al
sa21z Fourteenth street southeast The
young woman last saw him when he
said good-by about 9 o'clock Saturday
night. He told her he was going fishing
a four-year-old child and an infant also
survive.
Slater was a timer. and worked hard
10 support his young wife and children
Besides his regular employment in the
day. he worked al night. except on SAT
urdays Il was his custom 10 enjoy 1Es
few hours rest IN a fishing trip on The
Eastern Branch
he returned home about O'Clock sat
urday night. and after eating supper
donned a big storm overcoat. pGt hshinc
tackle in the pockets and started for the
river. lie went 70 a wharf near the
Washington end cf the Pennsylvania ave
nue bridge occupied by the Allegheny COa
Company II is not known how long the
man sat there.
Men Heard Cries
Shortly before midnight Charles y. and
Arthur L. Baker, WHO were walking in
Twining City. heard cries coming from
the river. They ran out on the bridge
leaned over the railing. and listened II
a few seconds they thought they heard 4
man cry. oh. my God, help me. help ne
I can't hold on much longer The men
thought the cry came from the Washing
ton end OF the bridge. and ran that way
They. scanned the surface or the wa1eI
on both sides Of the bridge but the cries
could no longer be heard When they
reached the Washington end Of the bridge
there was nothing 10 show tragedy had
occurred
Slater evidently let 20 the pile before
the men started. and il vas his last ap-
pealing cry they heard when in Twining
City. The men notified the police. and a
search was made OF the ground below the
Washington end Of the bridge. Nothing
was found 10 excite suspicion, and the
policemen gave Up fhs search after an
hours work
Effects Are Found.
Early in the morning policemen were
sent 10 the scene 10 see Il there were
signs Of q struggle on the coal CON-
psny's wharf. The tin bait bucket, news
paper. and fshhooks were found on the
edge Of the dock This discovery led 70
the belief man had fallen overheard
and police Of the harbor precinct were
notified.
Throughout the day the police boa;
dragged the bottom OF the river in the
vicinity Of the wharf Just before night
fail the body was found in fifteen fee;
OF water, about 20 yatds below the dock.
The body was removed 10 the morgue. a
knife. two old coins. and other personal
effects were found IN the mans clothing
Coroner Nevitt viewed the body. and
gave a certificate Of death by accidental
drowning. The coroner made a complete
investigation before issuing a death GER
tifCate. The police had suspected foul
play. but there was nothing 10 substaR-
fia1e the theory