New-York tribune., 1909-03-27
WAR HERO A SUICIDE
YOUNGEST UNION SOLDIER
DIES IN BROADWAY.
Son of Cousin of Salmon p. Chase
Ends Life-Lost job IN NaUy
Yard and Vas W.

Aquilla Chase, said TO have been the youngest
federal soldier in the Civil War. Of Colonel
Daniel Chase. of Maine, who was a cousin OF SAL
mon P Chase Secretary Of the Treasury in Lin
coins first Cabinet and afterward chief Justice OF
the United States Supreme Court. shot himself
TO death before great thrOng OF shoppers in
Broadway. near gath street yesterday afternoon
The police reserves from the West 3Oth street
station had TO be called out to force the crowd
away from the fallen man and to clear way
for the patrol wagon which removed the body
to the station Chase lived at No. So Norman
avenue, Brooklyn
The usual afternoon Broadway rush IN
full swing when Chase entered a newspaper
office and gave a counting room clerk a bulky
package addressed to the editor. There were
two uncancelled postage stamps on it, Chase
paused there a moment. and then walked slowly
out into Broadway. He stood with his back to
the building looked at the hurrying crowd, then
put his hand into his overcoat pocket. thrust a
revolver between the folds of his coat. and
sharp shot checked every pedestrian like a fash
Chase clutched at his chest and fell forward in
a crumpled heap.
DR.. Peter J. Gibbons. Of No 40 Park avenue,
who was passing found that death had followed
the shot almost instantly. The bullet penetrated
the heart
At the station house the police found papers
through these the package was recovered from
the newspaper Office. One Of the papers con-
tanned the statement that Chase had suffered
from bronchitis and heart disease for thirty
years and physicians had told him that he could
not live much longer In the bulky envelopes
was his story of dismissal from the Brooklyn
navy yard because of lack OF work and a recital
Of his services and the services of his ancestors
in the army. followed by the announcement that
r=afa
from a lingering death. and his wife from suf-
ferfng.
NOT NEEDED NOW BY GOVERNMENT
please publish this and be merciful TO mine
was the line that led the recital Of his troubles
contained in the package Chase left at the news
paper Office. There was also a communication
| from the Navy Department. showing that chase
| had appealed 10 Washington for work, and that
| the appeal had been received by the secretary
| to the President and had been returned to the
| navy yard Appended a statement that as
| Mr. Chase had worked faithfully he was second
| on the list for accomplishment when work was
/ resumed in the department where he had been
last employed. The suicide was a carpenter
f! The recital began:
| Probably before you read this 7 Will be no
| more on this earth am going TO write this
| before I go stark mad for sickness and dis
| ease are affecting my mind. and II is with DIM
| - -. -,- ,.l,Sr,+roI NJ Thoughts T have
| suffered thousand deaths
| The cause OF Chase's greatest suffering he
| said. was because I am not permitted to work
| for the government that my father and myself
| fought for and that my three brothers died for
| He wrote that the government did not want him
| now but did him in war times. Then
| followed his family history. Chase was a Iineal
I descendant OF Peregrine White. the first whits
| child born in New England. His forefathers
| fought the Indians on his fathers side they
were all military men, two cOlOnels. one captain
| and one major on the mothers side there were
| four ministers Of the Gospel Writing Of his
/ father. Chase said.
At the call of the bugle he. like Israel Put
| nam. let everything go TO ruin raised troops
for the drilled regiments all over the state.
/ then went to the front with US four sons and
he came home To die of his injuries. Ny three
brothers lie out on different battlehelds.
For the last eleven years have worked in the
BROOKLYN Navy Yard a carpenter was
discharged about three months ago. when work
got scarce But there were foreigners kept who
could hardly speak the English language- This
is what has preyed on my mind and drove me
nearly mad and fastened my disease won't
go to the Soldiers Home and leave a beautiful
affeCtiOnate wife in want
APPEAL FOR HIS WIFE
Then the letter contained this appeal for the
help of his wife:
/ have never known want 1 have always been
light hearted and jolly and never had a thought
last dollar to those in want and sickness My
heart was too big for my good IL all looms
up before me when il is too late For my
SELF I don't care but To leave dear sweet
heart wife in want is breaking my heart
She is more ft TO be among the -Four Hun
dred than the wife of poor mechanic she
does not know that I discharged, nor does
she know that l am in the state that l am. for
don't look it, but the doctor told me / nave
but a little while to live No one can say ever
spent money for drink Ny sickness was not
caused by any fault OF mine
oh God, To think that must leave my wife
in want Will you not interest the rich char
itably inclined in her behalf when am gone
Will YOU not bring this before Mrs sage. Miss
Helen Gould or the hundreds Of others VINO
might give mite TO the wife OF a man whoss
forefathers made il possible for them 70 i've
i'm the land OF the free and the home of the
brave in wealth and luxury, while nave u
blow my brains out 20 escape sickness sunerlnS
and poverty -,
Nav God deal gently with those who are kind
IN ans I beg and implore you 10 help my wife
and God viii help YOU
In the package was a recommendation speak
ing warmly of Mr.. Chase as man and work
man There were also two newspaper clip
pinss one saying that he was the youngest
enlisted man in the federal service in the
civil War being thirteen years and ten months
old when he entered the army. and telling
of n visit he made with his father to Presi-
Ant lincoln. when they were introduced by Sec
retarv Chase. Lincoln is said to have told them
that such patriotism made for an army that the
South could never defeat, and 70 nave unstlnted-
| lv praised the young soldier
| AouiIla Chase was about sixty-two years DID,
| His clothing and linen were neaf and well
| kent and his heavy, sandy mOustacEe was Win
ont a gray hair In his pockets the police found
a bottle OF heart stimulant. bunch OF keys
silk handkerchief a cigar and p cents. besides