The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-01-20
SUICIDE OF NICK. MATHEWsON.
A Brother Of Chrlsty, the Famous
Pitcher, Ends his Life With
a Bullet I'm a Fit Of
iH- Insanity,

games last year and the year before on
the Silk Mill grounds, between the
Moosics and locals, in which young
Nicholas Mathewson, brother of the
phenomenal twirler of the New York
Giants, (who was himself for two seasons
a Honesdale player) was pitcher, will be
shocked to learn that he put bullet in
to his brain OF his home in Factoryville
on Thursday last, and died at o'clock,
on the following morning, in DR.. Reed
Burns's hospital in Scranton.
The Scranton Times gives the follow
ing account of the sad affair:
AS the result of self-inficted bullet
wound in his right temple, Nicholas
Mathewson, of Factoryville, died at DR..
Reed Burns's hospital in this city at
O'Clock this morning. Melancholia, in
duced by illness and overstudy, is sup
posed to have been the cause.
The young man was about nineteen
years old, a brother of the famous Christy
Mathewson, pitcher for the New York
Giants, and himself pitcher of local
fame. Last season he pitched for the
Moosic team in the Northeastern Penn
sylvania league, and fans who watched
his work predicted bright future for
him. Although it was understood that
he was to play with Nashville in the
Southern League next summer, his
brother Christy said this morning that
he had not intended playing professional
ball for another year at least.
This year he had attended Lafayette
on1lonn on1 do roonrl far hi,,,
a hard student. He studied so hard, in
fact, that his health became impaired,
and for the past few weeks had suf-
fered much from indigestion and jaun-
dice. Finally he relinquished his studies
and returned home. This was about a
week ago, and his enforced absence
from college preyed upon his mind con-
stantly. He was subject to fits of mel
ancholia, and it was while in one of
these yesterday afternoon that he went
to the barn in the rear of his home and
fired the bullet into his temple. An
obscure corner in the hay NOW was Sc.
lected for the deed, and it was not until
evening, when he was missed from the
house, that his father found him. He
was then unconscious.
Harry Fisk, a friend OF young Mathew
sons, who had called to see him, was
dispatched to the Office of DR.. French,
and as soon as the physician saw the
wound he ordered the removal of the
patient to this city. DR.. Burns was sum-
moned and both doctors brought him to
DR.. Burns's hospital in this city. He
did not regain consciousness.
The news of the suicide has created a
profound sensation, as the youth was of
a good natured disposition and was well
known here, particularly among the
amateur base ball players who played
with him in the Northeastern league
games last summer. With his brother,
Christy, he was great favorite, and the
coaching he received was responsible in
large measure for his success. His
reason for not entering the professional
ranks was that he intended playing col
lege base ball during his four years at
Lafayette.
Christy was summoned from New
York, last night, and he has assumed
charge of the funeral arrangements.
Besides Christy, the survivors are his
mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert
d. Mathewson, two sisters, Jane and
Christine, and Henry, another brother.
The latter has gained some distinction
as an amateur pitcher, also"
The remains were removed.to Factory
vile and the services held on Monday
afternoon last, with interment in the
cemetery of that village. The classmates
of the young man at Lafayette College
sent delegation of his fraternity, the
Phi Delta Theta, to act as pail bearers.
A delegation of students from Keystone
Academy, which he attended before en-
tering college, were also in attendance.
Young Mathewson' S first visit to Homes
dale was on Saturday, July is, 1907,
when he pitched for the Moosic's, with
Schuerholz in the box for the home club.
The game was one OF the best ever wit
messed on the Honesdale grounds, the
score standing 0 to 0 at the end of the
ninth inning. In the tenth Honesdale
won out by a score of to 0. Mathewson
was then II years old. He struck out
II men, hit and allowed hits. Schuer-
holz, his opponent in the box, struck
out 8; gave one a walk on balls, and al
lowed but hit. The game was such a
well-contested one, the Moosic's agreed
to return and play another on the Sd OF
August, the same batteries to contend
for the honors, but Mathewson played
with the Catasauqua club on the I'd,
and didn't feel in form for the fulfill
ment of his engagement. Last year,
however, he came here as pitcher for
the Moosics, and was again vanquished,
on Saturday, August 22d, by score Of
to 2, Hessling being in the box for the
locals. The pitchers records then were;
Mathewson struck out 10, passed 2 and
allowed hits. Hessling struck out 10,
gave pass and allowed hits.