Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-27
LAWS OF GRAVITY
DEFIED IN GIVING
UP RIVER DEATH
Six Cannon Balls Fail to Keep
Remains Of Ross Spade,
Soldier, at Bottom.
DISAPPEARED A WEEK AGO
Body Found at AndaIusfa, Having
6uoyed Up 5o-Pound Weight
in 1o-MiIe Journey.

A mystery was uncovered in the
finding of the body of Ross SPADE, a
soldier at Rock Island arsenal. floating
in the Mississippi river near Anda-
lusia.. The grewsome discovery was
made about o'clock yesterday after
crossing the river and in the gap be-
tween the islands in the middle of the
stream noticed the body floating. He
towed the remains to the Illinois shore
and notified Coroner r. c. j. Meyer.
When found the body was clothed in
full dress uniform. The cap, was tied
to the head with a long silk handker-
chief When a soldier is buried with
military honors il is customary TO
leave the cap on. and it is likely that
Spade had this in mind when he went
to his death, for il evidently was a
case of suicide. A belt was thrown
around the shoulders with a gunny
sack passed through it. In the sack
were six three-inch cannon balls of
the old type There had been placed in
each end of the sack to balance it. The
total weight of these balls is so pounds
and Coroner Meyer stated this morn
ing that he never kne, f a case
where a body fioated with such a weight
attached to it. 1t appears that Spade
intended to make the Mississippi his
permanent grave and to leave his dis
appearance an unsolved mystery.
Verdict is Open One.
An inquest was held over the re-
mains in Andalusia last evening at 6
o'clock. and the jury returned a YER
dict of death due to drowning in the
Mississippi river. The body was
brought from Andalusia to Knox's I'M
dertaking parlors, where final identifi- |
cation was made by Captain Norton of !
the arsenal.
In speaking OF the deceased, Captain |
Norton said he was a model soldier, |
but was of an unusually quiet DISPOSE |
ton and wanted to be alone most of
the time. His associates at the island |
stated that they had noticed nothing |
wrong about his actions the week be- |
fore and that he Gid not seem despond- /
ent.
Spade was last seen alive Tuesday !
of last week, leaving the is
land on a day pass, which allows the |
soldiers to be absent for one day, /
either in uniform or civilian clothes.
Spade undoubtedly secured the can
non balls in the gun yard of the scrap
pile in the back of the shops. The
balls are of obsolete type and are not
in use. Where Spade entered the 4
water will probably never be known.
However, it is probable that he jump
ed into the channel at night from the
main bridge, as the body would hardly
nave been carried into the channel
had he jumped in from the shore.
Native of West Virginia.
Ross Spade was born in Monroe
county. w. Va, % years ago, and
spent the early years of life there. He
entered the regular army service six
ears ago, and was assigned to the in
antry. He came to the Rock Island |
Lrsenal three and one-half years ago
S private, and was assigned to the
egular ordnance service. During his II
rmy career he had reenlisted twice
lis discharge papers we're found I'M
er the pillow of the bed in his room
t the barracks.
He is survived by his parents, one
lister and brother. Jesse, all of West ! II
-irginIa. His brother who lives at II
w. Va, has been notified III
( his death. I'll
Owing TO the condition of the body 4
was inferred at once in the national II
on the arsenal. III