Cause of death: run over by a freight train.
------------------------------------
Leaped Between Cars
William A. Duncan Killed by a
Freight in Chicago.
Syracuse Man, 25 Years Old, Meets Instant Death—Had Been in Syracuse Recently —Had Traveled Far.
William A. Duncan, son of Mrs. M. J. Duncan of No. 209 Catherine street, was killed at Chicago yesterday afternoon by a freight train on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad. A dispatch from there says that he deliberately leaped between two cars of the train. He had acted strangely and it was thought that he was demented. A considerable sum of money which he had a short time before his death was missing.
Duncan was about 25 years old, but had had the experience of a man twice his age. He had traveled much. Recently he inherited some money from an aunt and Tuesday last started for Seattle to go into business. He came here Monday and stopped at the Globe hotel that morning. He acted somewhat strangely after that but this was believed to be due to a considerable quantity of wine which he drank. In front of the Kirk block he amused himself and a crowd for a short time, throwing away money for the newsboys and boot-blacks to scramble for on the pavement.
He left for Buffalo Tuesday and could not have reached Chicago before yesterday morning. At that city he stopped at the Saratoga hotel. He had been there about a week before, calling once on Frederick F. Skeel, formerly in the employ of E. G. Wyckoff & Company of this city.
At the hotel office yesterday morning he did not talk coherently. About noon he went to the clerk in charge and paid his bill. He displayed a roll of bills, some of them of large denominations. He left with an unknown young man.
The next known of his whereabouts was yesterday afternoon when John Dugan, a Lake Shore switchman, saw him on the tracks near the Forty-fourth street station and warned him off. Dugan claims that Duncan would stand on the tracks until a train was near at hand and then jump away, laughing. As a freight train passed the switchman saw him fall or leap between two cars. He was instantly killed.
News of her son's death was conveyed to Mrs. Duncan this morning and arrangements were made to have the body brought here for burial.
Duncan was born in this city and was educated in the grammar schools and the Fairport and Michigan academies. At the opening of the Spanish war he enlisted in the regular cavalry and upon the expiration of his enlistment he went to Palm Beach, Fla., where he worked until about two weeks ago.
He had inherited a part of the estate of Anna Duncan, an aunt, and before leaving for Chicago Tuesday had $500 or $600 of the money. His friends here believed that he was robbed in Chicago as they cannot figure how he could get rid of so much money in a day in any other way. He had $9 when killed.
Mrs. Duncan received a letter from her son this morning before she knew of his death. Duncan said in the letter that he had a promise of a good job in Chicago and anticipated taking it and giving up his Seattle enterprise. The letter was written Tuesday night or yesterday morning, not long before his death. It was rational in composition.
[The Syracuse Herald, Thursday evening, May 26, 1904, page 13]
DIED.
DUNCAN—Suddenly, in Chicago, Ill., May 26, 1904. William A. Duncan, formerly of this city.
Private funeral services from the parlors of M. Ryan & Son, No. [3?]24 South Salina street, this (Sunday) afternoon at 2 o'clock.
[The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), Sunday morning, May 29, 1904, page 12]
------------------------
Meets death on Chicago tracks
Man giving name of W.A. Duncan of Syracuse a suicide
Dives under freight cars
Switchman warns him several times, but to no purpose—large amount of money missing
Chicago, May 25—W.A. Duncan, a traveling salesman from Syracuse, committed suicide this afternoon by leaping between two rapidly moving freight cars at Forty-fourth street and the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad tracks.
Duncan had been in Chicago for the last week and stayed at the Saratoga Hotel until this morning. The clerk at the hotel and friends of Duncan assert that he was temporarily insane and since his arrival in Chicago had acted strangely. A sum of money which he had a short time before his death is missing, only $9 being found in his pockets.
Duncan called on Fred F. Skeel, No. 57 Winthrop avenue, Monday, and told him he was going to Syracuse the following day. His friends had seen nothing of him since them. He did not stay at the Saratoga Hotel Monday night, but entered the office of the hotel this morning. The clerk says that he talked in a rambling manner. About 10 o’clock this morning he was seen with a young man in the hotel. From their actions the clerk believed Duncan had employed the man to show him about town.
About 11 o’clock Duncan announced his intention of leaving and paid his bill. He displayed a large sum of money and tendered a $100 bill to the clerk when he settled his account. So far as known he was not seen by any of his acquaintances after that. He left the hotel in company with the young many supposed to be his guide.
Switchman John Dougan of the Lake Shore Michigan Southern Railroad noticed Duncan near the station at Forty-fourth street and several times warned him off the tracks when trains were approaching. HE said that Duncan acted strangely and would stand on the tracks until the train was almost upon him and then jump from the track and laugh.
Dougan was called upon to throw a switch and when he next saw Duncan, he was standing near a track on which a fast freight train was approaching. As the engine passed Duncan he stepped back and then leaped headlong between two of the cars.
Dear man unknown to Syracuse people
Inquiry last night disclosed the fact that the Fred F. Skeel referred to in the Chicago dispatch is from Syracuse, being the Chicago representative of the Course-Hinds Company. H.B. Crouse was out of town. At his residence in Liberty street, it was said that it was unknown whether a man named W.A. Duncan was in the company’s employ or not. A similar statement was made at the residence of J.L. Hinds in South State street. At the residence of William Skeel in University avenue it was impossible to learn more. Mr. Skeel is a brother of Fred F. Skeel.
There are several W.A. Duncans in the directory; none of them being the one referred to.
Syracuse Post Standard, May 26, 1904, page 6
------------------------------------
Leaped Between Cars
William A. Duncan Killed by a
Freight in Chicago.
Syracuse Man, 25 Years Old, Meets Instant Death—Had Been in Syracuse Recently —Had Traveled Far.
William A. Duncan, son of Mrs. M. J. Duncan of No. 209 Catherine street, was killed at Chicago yesterday afternoon by a freight train on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad. A dispatch from there says that he deliberately leaped between two cars of the train. He had acted strangely and it was thought that he was demented. A considerable sum of money which he had a short time before his death was missing.
Duncan was about 25 years old, but had had the experience of a man twice his age. He had traveled much. Recently he inherited some money from an aunt and Tuesday last started for Seattle to go into business. He came here Monday and stopped at the Globe hotel that morning. He acted somewhat strangely after that but this was believed to be due to a considerable quantity of wine which he drank. In front of the Kirk block he amused himself and a crowd for a short time, throwing away money for the newsboys and boot-blacks to scramble for on the pavement.
He left for Buffalo Tuesday and could not have reached Chicago before yesterday morning. At that city he stopped at the Saratoga hotel. He had been there about a week before, calling once on Frederick F. Skeel, formerly in the employ of E. G. Wyckoff & Company of this city.
At the hotel office yesterday morning he did not talk coherently. About noon he went to the clerk in charge and paid his bill. He displayed a roll of bills, some of them of large denominations. He left with an unknown young man.
The next known of his whereabouts was yesterday afternoon when John Dugan, a Lake Shore switchman, saw him on the tracks near the Forty-fourth street station and warned him off. Dugan claims that Duncan would stand on the tracks until a train was near at hand and then jump away, laughing. As a freight train passed the switchman saw him fall or leap between two cars. He was instantly killed.
News of her son's death was conveyed to Mrs. Duncan this morning and arrangements were made to have the body brought here for burial.
Duncan was born in this city and was educated in the grammar schools and the Fairport and Michigan academies. At the opening of the Spanish war he enlisted in the regular cavalry and upon the expiration of his enlistment he went to Palm Beach, Fla., where he worked until about two weeks ago.
He had inherited a part of the estate of Anna Duncan, an aunt, and before leaving for Chicago Tuesday had $500 or $600 of the money. His friends here believed that he was robbed in Chicago as they cannot figure how he could get rid of so much money in a day in any other way. He had $9 when killed.
Mrs. Duncan received a letter from her son this morning before she knew of his death. Duncan said in the letter that he had a promise of a good job in Chicago and anticipated taking it and giving up his Seattle enterprise. The letter was written Tuesday night or yesterday morning, not long before his death. It was rational in composition.
[The Syracuse Herald, Thursday evening, May 26, 1904, page 13]
DIED.
DUNCAN—Suddenly, in Chicago, Ill., May 26, 1904. William A. Duncan, formerly of this city.
Private funeral services from the parlors of M. Ryan & Son, No. [3?]24 South Salina street, this (Sunday) afternoon at 2 o'clock.
[The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), Sunday morning, May 29, 1904, page 12]
------------------------
Meets death on Chicago tracks
Man giving name of W.A. Duncan of Syracuse a suicide
Dives under freight cars
Switchman warns him several times, but to no purpose—large amount of money missing
Chicago, May 25—W.A. Duncan, a traveling salesman from Syracuse, committed suicide this afternoon by leaping between two rapidly moving freight cars at Forty-fourth street and the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad tracks.
Duncan had been in Chicago for the last week and stayed at the Saratoga Hotel until this morning. The clerk at the hotel and friends of Duncan assert that he was temporarily insane and since his arrival in Chicago had acted strangely. A sum of money which he had a short time before his death is missing, only $9 being found in his pockets.
Duncan called on Fred F. Skeel, No. 57 Winthrop avenue, Monday, and told him he was going to Syracuse the following day. His friends had seen nothing of him since them. He did not stay at the Saratoga Hotel Monday night, but entered the office of the hotel this morning. The clerk says that he talked in a rambling manner. About 10 o’clock this morning he was seen with a young man in the hotel. From their actions the clerk believed Duncan had employed the man to show him about town.
About 11 o’clock Duncan announced his intention of leaving and paid his bill. He displayed a large sum of money and tendered a $100 bill to the clerk when he settled his account. So far as known he was not seen by any of his acquaintances after that. He left the hotel in company with the young many supposed to be his guide.
Switchman John Dougan of the Lake Shore Michigan Southern Railroad noticed Duncan near the station at Forty-fourth street and several times warned him off the tracks when trains were approaching. HE said that Duncan acted strangely and would stand on the tracks until the train was almost upon him and then jump from the track and laugh.
Dougan was called upon to throw a switch and when he next saw Duncan, he was standing near a track on which a fast freight train was approaching. As the engine passed Duncan he stepped back and then leaped headlong between two of the cars.
Dear man unknown to Syracuse people
Inquiry last night disclosed the fact that the Fred F. Skeel referred to in the Chicago dispatch is from Syracuse, being the Chicago representative of the Course-Hinds Company. H.B. Crouse was out of town. At his residence in Liberty street, it was said that it was unknown whether a man named W.A. Duncan was in the company’s employ or not. A similar statement was made at the residence of J.L. Hinds in South State street. At the residence of William Skeel in University avenue it was impossible to learn more. Mr. Skeel is a brother of Fred F. Skeel.
There are several W.A. Duncans in the directory; none of them being the one referred to.
Syracuse Post Standard, May 26, 1904, page 6
Cause of death: run over by a freight train.
------------------------------------
Leaped Between Cars
William A. Duncan Killed by a
Freight in Chicago.
Syracuse Man, 25 Years Old, Meets Instant Death—Had Been in Syracuse Recently —Had Traveled Far.
William A. Duncan, son of Mrs. M. J. Duncan of No. 209 Catherine street, was killed at Chicago yesterday afternoon by a freight train on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad. A dispatch from there says that he deliberately leaped between two cars of the train. He had acted strangely and it was thought that he was demented. A considerable sum of money which he had a short time before his death was missing.
Duncan was about 25 years old, but had had the experience of a man twice his age. He had traveled much. Recently he inherited some money from an aunt and Tuesday last started for Seattle to go into business. He came here Monday and stopped at the Globe hotel that morning. He acted somewhat strangely after that but this was believed to be due to a considerable quantity of wine which he drank. In front of the Kirk block he amused himself and a crowd for a short time, throwing away money for the newsboys and boot-blacks to scramble for on the pavement.
He left for Buffalo Tuesday and could not have reached Chicago before yesterday morning. At that city he stopped at the Saratoga hotel. He had been there about a week before, calling once on Frederick F. Skeel, formerly in the employ of E. G. Wyckoff & Company of this city.
At the hotel office yesterday morning he did not talk coherently. About noon he went to the clerk in charge and paid his bill. He displayed a roll of bills, some of them of large denominations. He left with an unknown young man.
The next known of his whereabouts was yesterday afternoon when John Dugan, a Lake Shore switchman, saw him on the tracks near the Forty-fourth street station and warned him off. Dugan claims that Duncan would stand on the tracks until a train was near at hand and then jump away, laughing. As a freight train passed the switchman saw him fall or leap between two cars. He was instantly killed.
News of her son's death was conveyed to Mrs. Duncan this morning and arrangements were made to have the body brought here for burial.
Duncan was born in this city and was educated in the grammar schools and the Fairport and Michigan academies. At the opening of the Spanish war he enlisted in the regular cavalry and upon the expiration of his enlistment he went to Palm Beach, Fla., where he worked until about two weeks ago.
He had inherited a part of the estate of Anna Duncan, an aunt, and before leaving for Chicago Tuesday had $500 or $600 of the money. His friends here believed that he was robbed in Chicago as they cannot figure how he could get rid of so much money in a day in any other way. He had $9 when killed.
Mrs. Duncan received a letter from her son this morning before she knew of his death. Duncan said in the letter that he had a promise of a good job in Chicago and anticipated taking it and giving up his Seattle enterprise. The letter was written Tuesday night or yesterday morning, not long before his death. It was rational in composition.
[The Syracuse Herald, Thursday evening, May 26, 1904, page 13]
DIED.
DUNCAN—Suddenly, in Chicago, Ill., May 26, 1904. William A. Duncan, formerly of this city.
Private funeral services from the parlors of M. Ryan & Son, No. [3?]24 South Salina street, this (Sunday) afternoon at 2 o'clock.
[The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), Sunday morning, May 29, 1904, page 12]
------------------------
Meets death on Chicago tracks
Man giving name of W.A. Duncan of Syracuse a suicide
Dives under freight cars
Switchman warns him several times, but to no purpose—large amount of money missing
Chicago, May 25—W.A. Duncan, a traveling salesman from Syracuse, committed suicide this afternoon by leaping between two rapidly moving freight cars at Forty-fourth street and the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad tracks.
Duncan had been in Chicago for the last week and stayed at the Saratoga Hotel until this morning. The clerk at the hotel and friends of Duncan assert that he was temporarily insane and since his arrival in Chicago had acted strangely. A sum of money which he had a short time before his death is missing, only $9 being found in his pockets.
Duncan called on Fred F. Skeel, No. 57 Winthrop avenue, Monday, and told him he was going to Syracuse the following day. His friends had seen nothing of him since them. He did not stay at the Saratoga Hotel Monday night, but entered the office of the hotel this morning. The clerk says that he talked in a rambling manner. About 10 o’clock this morning he was seen with a young man in the hotel. From their actions the clerk believed Duncan had employed the man to show him about town.
About 11 o’clock Duncan announced his intention of leaving and paid his bill. He displayed a large sum of money and tendered a $100 bill to the clerk when he settled his account. So far as known he was not seen by any of his acquaintances after that. He left the hotel in company with the young many supposed to be his guide.
Switchman John Dougan of the Lake Shore Michigan Southern Railroad noticed Duncan near the station at Forty-fourth street and several times warned him off the tracks when trains were approaching. HE said that Duncan acted strangely and would stand on the tracks until the train was almost upon him and then jump from the track and laugh.
Dougan was called upon to throw a switch and when he next saw Duncan, he was standing near a track on which a fast freight train was approaching. As the engine passed Duncan he stepped back and then leaped headlong between two of the cars.
Dear man unknown to Syracuse people
Inquiry last night disclosed the fact that the Fred F. Skeel referred to in the Chicago dispatch is from Syracuse, being the Chicago representative of the Course-Hinds Company. H.B. Crouse was out of town. At his residence in Liberty street, it was said that it was unknown whether a man named W.A. Duncan was in the company’s employ or not. A similar statement was made at the residence of J.L. Hinds in South State street. At the residence of William Skeel in University avenue it was impossible to learn more. Mr. Skeel is a brother of Fred F. Skeel.
There are several W.A. Duncans in the directory; none of them being the one referred to.
Syracuse Post Standard, May 26, 1904, page 6
------------------------------------
Leaped Between Cars
William A. Duncan Killed by a
Freight in Chicago.
Syracuse Man, 25 Years Old, Meets Instant Death—Had Been in Syracuse Recently —Had Traveled Far.
William A. Duncan, son of Mrs. M. J. Duncan of No. 209 Catherine street, was killed at Chicago yesterday afternoon by a freight train on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad. A dispatch from there says that he deliberately leaped between two cars of the train. He had acted strangely and it was thought that he was demented. A considerable sum of money which he had a short time before his death was missing.
Duncan was about 25 years old, but had had the experience of a man twice his age. He had traveled much. Recently he inherited some money from an aunt and Tuesday last started for Seattle to go into business. He came here Monday and stopped at the Globe hotel that morning. He acted somewhat strangely after that but this was believed to be due to a considerable quantity of wine which he drank. In front of the Kirk block he amused himself and a crowd for a short time, throwing away money for the newsboys and boot-blacks to scramble for on the pavement.
He left for Buffalo Tuesday and could not have reached Chicago before yesterday morning. At that city he stopped at the Saratoga hotel. He had been there about a week before, calling once on Frederick F. Skeel, formerly in the employ of E. G. Wyckoff & Company of this city.
At the hotel office yesterday morning he did not talk coherently. About noon he went to the clerk in charge and paid his bill. He displayed a roll of bills, some of them of large denominations. He left with an unknown young man.
The next known of his whereabouts was yesterday afternoon when John Dugan, a Lake Shore switchman, saw him on the tracks near the Forty-fourth street station and warned him off. Dugan claims that Duncan would stand on the tracks until a train was near at hand and then jump away, laughing. As a freight train passed the switchman saw him fall or leap between two cars. He was instantly killed.
News of her son's death was conveyed to Mrs. Duncan this morning and arrangements were made to have the body brought here for burial.
Duncan was born in this city and was educated in the grammar schools and the Fairport and Michigan academies. At the opening of the Spanish war he enlisted in the regular cavalry and upon the expiration of his enlistment he went to Palm Beach, Fla., where he worked until about two weeks ago.
He had inherited a part of the estate of Anna Duncan, an aunt, and before leaving for Chicago Tuesday had $500 or $600 of the money. His friends here believed that he was robbed in Chicago as they cannot figure how he could get rid of so much money in a day in any other way. He had $9 when killed.
Mrs. Duncan received a letter from her son this morning before she knew of his death. Duncan said in the letter that he had a promise of a good job in Chicago and anticipated taking it and giving up his Seattle enterprise. The letter was written Tuesday night or yesterday morning, not long before his death. It was rational in composition.
[The Syracuse Herald, Thursday evening, May 26, 1904, page 13]
DIED.
DUNCAN—Suddenly, in Chicago, Ill., May 26, 1904. William A. Duncan, formerly of this city.
Private funeral services from the parlors of M. Ryan & Son, No. [3?]24 South Salina street, this (Sunday) afternoon at 2 o'clock.
[The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), Sunday morning, May 29, 1904, page 12]
------------------------
Meets death on Chicago tracks
Man giving name of W.A. Duncan of Syracuse a suicide
Dives under freight cars
Switchman warns him several times, but to no purpose—large amount of money missing
Chicago, May 25—W.A. Duncan, a traveling salesman from Syracuse, committed suicide this afternoon by leaping between two rapidly moving freight cars at Forty-fourth street and the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad tracks.
Duncan had been in Chicago for the last week and stayed at the Saratoga Hotel until this morning. The clerk at the hotel and friends of Duncan assert that he was temporarily insane and since his arrival in Chicago had acted strangely. A sum of money which he had a short time before his death is missing, only $9 being found in his pockets.
Duncan called on Fred F. Skeel, No. 57 Winthrop avenue, Monday, and told him he was going to Syracuse the following day. His friends had seen nothing of him since them. He did not stay at the Saratoga Hotel Monday night, but entered the office of the hotel this morning. The clerk says that he talked in a rambling manner. About 10 o’clock this morning he was seen with a young man in the hotel. From their actions the clerk believed Duncan had employed the man to show him about town.
About 11 o’clock Duncan announced his intention of leaving and paid his bill. He displayed a large sum of money and tendered a $100 bill to the clerk when he settled his account. So far as known he was not seen by any of his acquaintances after that. He left the hotel in company with the young many supposed to be his guide.
Switchman John Dougan of the Lake Shore Michigan Southern Railroad noticed Duncan near the station at Forty-fourth street and several times warned him off the tracks when trains were approaching. HE said that Duncan acted strangely and would stand on the tracks until the train was almost upon him and then jump from the track and laugh.
Dougan was called upon to throw a switch and when he next saw Duncan, he was standing near a track on which a fast freight train was approaching. As the engine passed Duncan he stepped back and then leaped headlong between two of the cars.
Dear man unknown to Syracuse people
Inquiry last night disclosed the fact that the Fred F. Skeel referred to in the Chicago dispatch is from Syracuse, being the Chicago representative of the Course-Hinds Company. H.B. Crouse was out of town. At his residence in Liberty street, it was said that it was unknown whether a man named W.A. Duncan was in the company’s employ or not. A similar statement was made at the residence of J.L. Hinds in South State street. At the residence of William Skeel in University avenue it was impossible to learn more. Mr. Skeel is a brother of Fred F. Skeel.
There are several W.A. Duncans in the directory; none of them being the one referred to.
Syracuse Post Standard, May 26, 1904, page 6
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