Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-22
SHOOTS HIMSELF; FALLS
OR JUMPS OVERHEARD
Well Dressed Stranger Who Boarded
Ship at New Yort puts End to His
Life IN Still Of Night When Vessel
Is Fighting Strong Gale in Atlantic.
Initials "A. p. p"

While the Old Dominion Line
steamer Hamilton was fighting her
way down the coast from New York
10 this port in The teeth of a hfty-
knot gale. tragedy which Is shroud'
cd in mystery was enacted upon her
quarterback abalt the main saloon
Sometime during the night an un-
known passenger on the vessel sent
bullet from 32-callbre revolver
crashing through his body. and. after
leaning against the deck railing long
enough for great pool OF blood 10
form N his feet. either fell or climb
ed over the railing and plunged into
The raging sea some twenty feet be-
tow.
Nothing was known of the suicide
until the Hamilton was nearing Cape
Henry Mt 6 o'clock yesterday morning
when one OF the deck hands saw tho
pool OF blood the revolver and black
Jasby hat on the deck. Perforated
In the inside band OF the bat were
the Initials "a p. p" The deck hani
reported his find to the officers of the
steamer and the register OF the ras-
sangers who boarded the ship at New
York was searched In an effort to
identity the suicide II developed
then that the man had. not registered
when boarding the ship and the Off
GERS think that he went on the vessel
with the deliberate intention of kill
ing himself at sea.
Ate Dinner With Passengers.
Though he did not register, the pas
senger was seen aboard the ship aud
ate dinner shortly before o'clock.
lie is described as being tall and slen-
der and apparently was about 80 years
old. His hair was iron grey and his
complexion was rather dark. He wore
blue serge suit or fashionable cut
aud had the appearance OF being
prosperous business or professional
man.
After the discovery that the pass en-
ger had killed himself, the steward
recalled that at supper the unknown
man called for a pint of claret aud
paid for il with a So bill. He ap-
feared 10 be perfectly sober at that
time. He drank his wine and left
the dining saloon about 8 o'clock. So
far as Is known that was the last
seen OF him.
" IL utC ltOt ItSlSttt. AHt it"b
was not assigned 20 any stateroom
on the vessel and the ASSUMPTION Is
that he socreted himself on the quar-
terdeck until the passengers had re-
tired for tie nigb,. He was In pro-
tccted position there and could have
remained in the lee OF the cabin sew
srai hours without suffering from the
cold.
No One Heard Shot.
That no one on tho vessel heard the
report Of the revolver was due TO The
fact that the high wind was blowing
aud the tragedy occurred on the lee
side. Only one shot was fred as but
one empty she'll was found in the
chamber OF the ive-shootinS revolver.
The railing Of the ship was covered
with blood and large pool of blood
was on the deck. indicating that The
man must have leaned against the
railing several minutes. a; least. be
fore piunging overheard. Officers Of
the steamer believe that the mans
aim was bad. probably due TO The fact
saaf his fingers weIc cramped bv the
cold. and that he dill no. inaict a
mortal wound They think that af'or
finding that he had not finished The
job he climbed over the high railing