Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-25
CORPORAL DIES
4 SUICIDE FOR
UNKNOWNCAUSE
{. \. RrodbeCk Jumps From Rock
Island Ferry Landing Into
Mississippi
WAS DAVENPORT RECRUTTER
others Members At Station Mysti-
lied Body is RecOverpd-TeIIs
Of Man Swimming.

humping OF the Rock Island ferry
boat landing into the Mississippi
river Yesterday, should have done
the rash act
The tragedy took place at about
, o'clock yesterday afternoon. and
vas witnessed by a number OF
r7reors. Inc soldier threw off his
Ia, and then leaped into the
swift current He sank before res
cues could reach him.
The body vas recovered two
hours later by Elmer Mccoy, who
with a number of Others were
dragging TOT the drowned man
Corporal BrOdbeck had been sta
toned al the Davenport recruiting
station. He came to Davenport in
APRIL. hut since then had spent
considerable time at Clinton, re
turning To Davenport but d ShCr.
vaile ago.
Other members Of the recruiting
mission, which has Offices at 2051h
Brady street. Davenport. state
that they were dumbfounded when
they were informed that Corporal
Br0dbech had committed suicide in
the Nississlppi. They say that
tEth hI".alEh l-- 81 III 81 LHGL EpLIle
mistake had been made. and that
even Yet it is difficult for them to
believe that their cOmradc commit
Ted such a rash act lie is said
10 have been cheerful. and they had
-a1er noticed that he was despond-
rt However. Thomas Andreski,
G-st class private connected with
the recruiting office. states that he
had Tooued with Brodbeck at the
Hess hotel in Davenport for the
past week. and that at times he
had p0nGered upon some of Brod-
beCk's actions as being strange.
Andreski states that he was in
Rock Island with Brodbeck yester-
day and had left him on the streets
al about noon. Brodbeck is said to
have had a habit of making a
slight ceremony whenever leaving
d friend for even the shortest time.
He is said to have always shook
hands in q hurried way. make a
few remarks and then depart.
Actions Not Unusual.
AGdresH says that BrodbeCk's
actions yesterday were not unusual
and that the parting handshake
was carried out when they sep
aratei yesterday noon as was
Brulbeck's custom Andreski says
that he did not have the slightest
idea that Brodbeck might have
bsen brO0ding over self destruc-
lion.
After leaving Brodbeck at noon
Andre-Ei did not see him again IN
I'll he gazed upon the dead body Of
his friend at the Wheelan under
taking establishment. where 1t had
been taken on being recovered
from The river just two hours after
il sank beneath the surface.
Lieutenant (. C. Wright Of the
Davenport recruiting station stated
today that he was astOunded
when he heard of Brodbeck's death.
He says that he has two addresses
Of Br0dbeck'5 neither, and that he
has relegraphed to both but has
received no answer as yet. The
addresses given are Mrs. Mary
BrOdbeCE. Portsmouth, Ohio, and
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Elmer Mccoy. who recovered
tie body Of the drowned soldier.
SAYS that the body was found
ABOUT fifty feet down stream from
where the fatal leap was taken and
about FIVE feet from where the man
was last seen.
Mccoy states that he did not see
The soldier when he jumped in the
river, but arrived On the scene
about 10 minutes later. He says
that be was told by a young man.
who saw The tragedy. that he could
h1
thought the soldier was only play
ing some prank by jumping into
The river with his clothes on. This
young man stated that the soldier
first started 10 swim. and then de-
Eberate-y ceased to do SO, raised
a'lald over his head and sank.
Inquest Tonight.
Coroner John Miller Will hold al
Inquest over the body at s O'Clock
this evening. and it is believed
Thar there may develop further in
formation as 10 the cause Of the
tragedy At this time.
Several stories without fOunda-
Ton were circulated today as to
Lae reason why the soldier COM
uItted suicide One was to the
erect thar the soldier was despOnd-
snt because he had been rejected
!or overseas duty Lieutenant
wright states that this is not true,
and that Brodbeck has served in
ne regular army 1or about five
fears.
Corporal Brodbeck was born
p years ago ir ChiIicOthe, Ohio.
Jn Jan. 30. 1908. he enlisted in
Troop F. First cavalry, from which
-e was EglCrahly discharged at
ne expiration of his term on Jan. I
~ 1911 He Te-enlisted Jan. 10,
-s-l. and Feb. was assigned to
7atfery r. Seventh field artillery.
-aier he was transferred as a first
Aasz private i'm Battery T. Twenti-
aA Held artillery, and was al this
me made q corporal. The same !
ear he was promoted 10 a ser
sea1' he was then transferred 10 /
-e general service infantry from I
Ae casual detachment, railway en- /
theers at Camp Grant, april -, .
80. April - Of this year he
2l1ef the recruiting duty depart I
EehJ In which capacity he was I
.2uo-el IH Davenport He was .
nc owner IF TWO Liberty bonds, /
nd carried $4,000 worth OF war /
-sk Insurance.
NOTICE! !
Members ar Rock Island Chap /
ef DO. z65, y j.. s. are requested /
attend The funeral Of Sister /
ehsle Donaldson. 1903 Fourth /