Brian McKenna
10-09-2007, 05:47 PM
“Where is Delehanty” the Washington Post cried on July 5, 1903. D.C. fans had at last heard about the disappearance of their slugger.
MENTAL STATE
A couple factors were weighing on the mind of the troubled outfielder in 1903. In the fall of 1902 D had signed two contracts – one with Washington and a three-year deal with the Giants for $18,000. The New York Giants advanced D $4,000. Problems arose when peace was declared between the two leagues and the National Commission assigned D to the Nationals.
There was an extensive debate among ML magnates as to whether D should be blacklisted for his dual contract situation. In the end Ban Johnson and Charles Comiskey won out, saving D from a de facto suspension.
Friends and family also reported that D was having problems with his wife, stemming from the ballplayer’s jealousy. It was also reported that D had tried to gas himself but was saved when someone interrupted him. It was also noted that he had occasionally spoken in a round about manner of committing suicide.
EARLY IN 1903
D was not happy about being in Washington. The root of the problem probably lied in the fact that he didn’t have the $4,000 to return to the Giants and he was being pressured by John McGraw and John Brush to join the club. As usual, the Giants were still fighting a war that had already ended. In essence, the Giants were tampering with D and using the money to turn the screws.
D stated out the season by briefly holding out from his AL club. He also publicly belittled his teammates and griped about his situation after being assigned to Washington. He was having serious financial troubles and at death would leave his wife and child destitute.
Teammates, fans and the media suggested all season that D wasn’t putting forth his best efforts on the field. Harsher critics might say he was tanking it. Perhaps his personal problems were just catching up to him. Team management had enough of the slugger during the first trip to Boston and suspended D for being rebellious. It was quickly revoked but obviously troubles existed.
IN CLEVELAND
The Nationals traveled to Cleveland on June 25. Almost immediately D’s behavior became erratic. He was drinking heavy and teammates became alarmed. They vowed to keep an eye on him. D also vaguely spoke of ending his own life. At one point D chased a teammate out of his hotel room at knife point.
After an exhaustive effort, teammate Jimmy Ryan finally persuaded D to accompany the club on the evening boat to Detroit.
IN DETROIT
D was still drinking heavy in Detroit and his mental state took a dip. Teammates believed he was having a breakdown. D’d mother and two brothers (who lived in Cleveland) were called in to baby-sit D at the Oriental Hotel in Detroit.
By June 29 D wasn’t showing up for the games. On the 30th he also telegrammed his wife in Philadelphia to meet him in D.C. when the club returned on Friday the 3rd. He also mailed a letter to his wife with an accidental insurance policy enclosed and he made reference to the fact that he hoped the train would somehow derail on the return trip and injury him in some fashion.
On Thursday July 2 D disappeared. He ditched his family and the ball club without a word. The club caught a train on the 2nd for a return trip to D.C. aboard a Michigan Central Railroad Pullman car. No sign of D.
IN WASHINGTON
Obviously, D did not arrive in D.C. Mrs. Delahanty was waiting at the team’s hotel, the Oxford, when the rest of the players arrived. She was informed of Ed’s strange behavior and disappearance. She was rightfully concerned; however, she had also seen this behavior before. Six years prior, D had taken off for a week to Cincinnati without informing anyone.
RECEIVING NOTICE
Elmer Bates, Cleveland baseball writer, received a report that D had bought a ticket aboard another Michigan Central Railroad Pullman car – this one headed to New York. He was on train car #6 that was referred to as the Havana car. It left Detroit on 7/02 at 4:25 pm and was due to arrive in Buffalo that evening at 9 pm.
The following letter was sent to the Nationals on July 6:
Dear Sir: A passenger in one of our cars July 2 had some altercation with the Michigan Central train conductor, and he was ejected from the train at Fort Erie, Ontario. Later (according to reports) a bridge-tender found a man on the International Bridge who succeeded in evading the guard, and, standing for some time he went to investigate this person to ascertain what he was doing there, as the International Bridge is not a bridge for foot passengers.
In putting his lantern into the passenger’s face the passenger was angered. And I understand they had some words and this bridge-tender states when his attention was called in another direction he heard a splash and the man was gone. And it is supposed the man jumped into the river or fell in, as the case may be. It is not known positively, so far as I am aware, but it is supposed the man ejected from the train some time before was the man seen on the bridge.
A dress-suit case and black leather bag were found on our train afterwards and are supposed to belong to this gentleman. And, I find in the suit case a complimentary pass, No. 26, of your club. And I write this letter thinking you may be able to identify the gentleman and communicate with his family or friends with relation to this matter. We still hold the baggage, as stated above, subject to the order of the proper person.
Yours truly, John K. Bennett, District Superintendent, Buffalo, July 6, 1903
In a later interview Bennett said,
I found in the valise left by the passenger put of No. 6 a season pass to the Washington Baseball Park, made out in the name of Ed. Delehanty. I found in the suitcase a suit of clothes with Delehanty’s name on it, also the name of the tailor in Washington who made it. There was a pair of baseball shoes in the satchel. I wrote at once to the tailor in Washington and learned the address of Delehanty’s family. I wrote Delehanty’s wife in Washington on receipt of the information, telling her of the circumstances and saying I believed that her husband was drowned off the bridge on the night in question.
The man was indeed D. He was ejected from the train at Bridgeburg, Fort Erie, Ontario, ten miles from Buffalo on the Canadian side of the Niagara River.
THE CONDUCTOR
Conductor Cole of the Michigan Central Railroad said that as soon as the train departed Detroit, D was acting like a crazy man. D had five whiskeys and was terrorizing other passengers. At one point he pulled a couple passengers from the berth and D also was threatening the conductor with a razor.
Cole had enough a tossed D off the train. Cole admitted later that he should have delivered D to the constables but at the time he was just happy to be done with the troublemaker.
THE NIGHT WATCHMAN
The night watchman (Sam Kingston) at the bridge made the following statement:
The man had something in his hand that looked like a lump of coal. He was standing on the iron side beams of the bridge, right at the edge. He was looking down at the water. When I came up with my light he said, “Get out of here or I’ll brain you.” I grabbed him and got him back to the middle of the bridge but he tried to get away. My foot went through between the ties and I let go of him and dropped my lantern. I picked it up and started after him when I heard a loud splash in the water below and saw a man’s body float down stream.
Kingston told D to return to shore but D started to run toward the American end of the bridge. The draw was up to let a boat pass.
After the incident Kingston may have picked up D’s hat by mistake and put it on. Either way, he found D’s hat – a black derby from the Hub Store on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C.
Foul play has been alleged by the family and some baseball historians but is the evidence there? For one, Kingston was 70 years old and it’s hard to imagine a 70-year-old getting the best of a drunken, unruly ballplayer who had been itching for a fight.
THE SEARCH
The bridge sat 20 feet above the water. The current ran at 8 miles per hour. The river itself was full of jagged rocks. Plus, the body would surely be taken over the falls.
D’s uncle J.E. Croak, a Buffalo resident, confirmed that the luggage was D’s.
M.A. Green, a Nationals stockholder and friend of D went to Buffalo to assist in the search.
Edward J. McGuire, D’s brother-in-law, went to Fort Erie to help with the search.
Nationals manager Tom Loftus and teammates said that D had the following:
-a diamond ring
-a pin
-gold watch
-other trinkets with diamonds
-$200 cash
Needing cash, the plan was for D to sell these items. D was also taking out multiple accident insurance policies with the proceeds going to his 6-year-old daughter. These policies were only good for 24 hours. None were in effect at the time of his death.
Hearing of the missing ballplayer, boatmen were on the lookout for his body. It was found at about 9 am on July 9 at the lower Niagara gorge (20 miles from the bridge) by William Leblond of Drummondsville, a small Canadian town.
IDENTIFYING THE BODY
Frank Delahanty, McGuire, Green and Croak all went to Drummondsville.
After a sweaty ride in a farm wagon, green arrived well before the others. He identified the body. The identification was not easy. The body was mangled, badly swollen and one leg was severed below the knee. The only clothing left was a shoe, a neck tie and stockings. No belongings were found.
Green recognized a gold crown tooth and two crooked fingers and thus identified the body.
The body was then shipped to Cleveland.
AFTERWARDS
Mrs. Delahanty left D.C. to pick up her daughter in Philadelphia and then head to Cleveland for the funeral.
The funeral was held on July 11 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. D was interred at Calvary Cemetery.
D left his family near destitute. There was no money from insurance. He was am member of Erie Lodge #2, Fraternal Order if Eagles of Philadelphia; however, he was in arrears so there were no benefits there.
Baseball officials organized benefits for the family and donated cash themselves.
MENTAL STATE
A couple factors were weighing on the mind of the troubled outfielder in 1903. In the fall of 1902 D had signed two contracts – one with Washington and a three-year deal with the Giants for $18,000. The New York Giants advanced D $4,000. Problems arose when peace was declared between the two leagues and the National Commission assigned D to the Nationals.
There was an extensive debate among ML magnates as to whether D should be blacklisted for his dual contract situation. In the end Ban Johnson and Charles Comiskey won out, saving D from a de facto suspension.
Friends and family also reported that D was having problems with his wife, stemming from the ballplayer’s jealousy. It was also reported that D had tried to gas himself but was saved when someone interrupted him. It was also noted that he had occasionally spoken in a round about manner of committing suicide.
EARLY IN 1903
D was not happy about being in Washington. The root of the problem probably lied in the fact that he didn’t have the $4,000 to return to the Giants and he was being pressured by John McGraw and John Brush to join the club. As usual, the Giants were still fighting a war that had already ended. In essence, the Giants were tampering with D and using the money to turn the screws.
D stated out the season by briefly holding out from his AL club. He also publicly belittled his teammates and griped about his situation after being assigned to Washington. He was having serious financial troubles and at death would leave his wife and child destitute.
Teammates, fans and the media suggested all season that D wasn’t putting forth his best efforts on the field. Harsher critics might say he was tanking it. Perhaps his personal problems were just catching up to him. Team management had enough of the slugger during the first trip to Boston and suspended D for being rebellious. It was quickly revoked but obviously troubles existed.
IN CLEVELAND
The Nationals traveled to Cleveland on June 25. Almost immediately D’s behavior became erratic. He was drinking heavy and teammates became alarmed. They vowed to keep an eye on him. D also vaguely spoke of ending his own life. At one point D chased a teammate out of his hotel room at knife point.
After an exhaustive effort, teammate Jimmy Ryan finally persuaded D to accompany the club on the evening boat to Detroit.
IN DETROIT
D was still drinking heavy in Detroit and his mental state took a dip. Teammates believed he was having a breakdown. D’d mother and two brothers (who lived in Cleveland) were called in to baby-sit D at the Oriental Hotel in Detroit.
By June 29 D wasn’t showing up for the games. On the 30th he also telegrammed his wife in Philadelphia to meet him in D.C. when the club returned on Friday the 3rd. He also mailed a letter to his wife with an accidental insurance policy enclosed and he made reference to the fact that he hoped the train would somehow derail on the return trip and injury him in some fashion.
On Thursday July 2 D disappeared. He ditched his family and the ball club without a word. The club caught a train on the 2nd for a return trip to D.C. aboard a Michigan Central Railroad Pullman car. No sign of D.
IN WASHINGTON
Obviously, D did not arrive in D.C. Mrs. Delahanty was waiting at the team’s hotel, the Oxford, when the rest of the players arrived. She was informed of Ed’s strange behavior and disappearance. She was rightfully concerned; however, she had also seen this behavior before. Six years prior, D had taken off for a week to Cincinnati without informing anyone.
RECEIVING NOTICE
Elmer Bates, Cleveland baseball writer, received a report that D had bought a ticket aboard another Michigan Central Railroad Pullman car – this one headed to New York. He was on train car #6 that was referred to as the Havana car. It left Detroit on 7/02 at 4:25 pm and was due to arrive in Buffalo that evening at 9 pm.
The following letter was sent to the Nationals on July 6:
Dear Sir: A passenger in one of our cars July 2 had some altercation with the Michigan Central train conductor, and he was ejected from the train at Fort Erie, Ontario. Later (according to reports) a bridge-tender found a man on the International Bridge who succeeded in evading the guard, and, standing for some time he went to investigate this person to ascertain what he was doing there, as the International Bridge is not a bridge for foot passengers.
In putting his lantern into the passenger’s face the passenger was angered. And I understand they had some words and this bridge-tender states when his attention was called in another direction he heard a splash and the man was gone. And it is supposed the man jumped into the river or fell in, as the case may be. It is not known positively, so far as I am aware, but it is supposed the man ejected from the train some time before was the man seen on the bridge.
A dress-suit case and black leather bag were found on our train afterwards and are supposed to belong to this gentleman. And, I find in the suit case a complimentary pass, No. 26, of your club. And I write this letter thinking you may be able to identify the gentleman and communicate with his family or friends with relation to this matter. We still hold the baggage, as stated above, subject to the order of the proper person.
Yours truly, John K. Bennett, District Superintendent, Buffalo, July 6, 1903
In a later interview Bennett said,
I found in the valise left by the passenger put of No. 6 a season pass to the Washington Baseball Park, made out in the name of Ed. Delehanty. I found in the suitcase a suit of clothes with Delehanty’s name on it, also the name of the tailor in Washington who made it. There was a pair of baseball shoes in the satchel. I wrote at once to the tailor in Washington and learned the address of Delehanty’s family. I wrote Delehanty’s wife in Washington on receipt of the information, telling her of the circumstances and saying I believed that her husband was drowned off the bridge on the night in question.
The man was indeed D. He was ejected from the train at Bridgeburg, Fort Erie, Ontario, ten miles from Buffalo on the Canadian side of the Niagara River.
THE CONDUCTOR
Conductor Cole of the Michigan Central Railroad said that as soon as the train departed Detroit, D was acting like a crazy man. D had five whiskeys and was terrorizing other passengers. At one point he pulled a couple passengers from the berth and D also was threatening the conductor with a razor.
Cole had enough a tossed D off the train. Cole admitted later that he should have delivered D to the constables but at the time he was just happy to be done with the troublemaker.
THE NIGHT WATCHMAN
The night watchman (Sam Kingston) at the bridge made the following statement:
The man had something in his hand that looked like a lump of coal. He was standing on the iron side beams of the bridge, right at the edge. He was looking down at the water. When I came up with my light he said, “Get out of here or I’ll brain you.” I grabbed him and got him back to the middle of the bridge but he tried to get away. My foot went through between the ties and I let go of him and dropped my lantern. I picked it up and started after him when I heard a loud splash in the water below and saw a man’s body float down stream.
Kingston told D to return to shore but D started to run toward the American end of the bridge. The draw was up to let a boat pass.
After the incident Kingston may have picked up D’s hat by mistake and put it on. Either way, he found D’s hat – a black derby from the Hub Store on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C.
Foul play has been alleged by the family and some baseball historians but is the evidence there? For one, Kingston was 70 years old and it’s hard to imagine a 70-year-old getting the best of a drunken, unruly ballplayer who had been itching for a fight.
THE SEARCH
The bridge sat 20 feet above the water. The current ran at 8 miles per hour. The river itself was full of jagged rocks. Plus, the body would surely be taken over the falls.
D’s uncle J.E. Croak, a Buffalo resident, confirmed that the luggage was D’s.
M.A. Green, a Nationals stockholder and friend of D went to Buffalo to assist in the search.
Edward J. McGuire, D’s brother-in-law, went to Fort Erie to help with the search.
Nationals manager Tom Loftus and teammates said that D had the following:
-a diamond ring
-a pin
-gold watch
-other trinkets with diamonds
-$200 cash
Needing cash, the plan was for D to sell these items. D was also taking out multiple accident insurance policies with the proceeds going to his 6-year-old daughter. These policies were only good for 24 hours. None were in effect at the time of his death.
Hearing of the missing ballplayer, boatmen were on the lookout for his body. It was found at about 9 am on July 9 at the lower Niagara gorge (20 miles from the bridge) by William Leblond of Drummondsville, a small Canadian town.
IDENTIFYING THE BODY
Frank Delahanty, McGuire, Green and Croak all went to Drummondsville.
After a sweaty ride in a farm wagon, green arrived well before the others. He identified the body. The identification was not easy. The body was mangled, badly swollen and one leg was severed below the knee. The only clothing left was a shoe, a neck tie and stockings. No belongings were found.
Green recognized a gold crown tooth and two crooked fingers and thus identified the body.
The body was then shipped to Cleveland.
AFTERWARDS
Mrs. Delahanty left D.C. to pick up her daughter in Philadelphia and then head to Cleveland for the funeral.
The funeral was held on July 11 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. D was interred at Calvary Cemetery.
D left his family near destitute. There was no money from insurance. He was am member of Erie Lodge #2, Fraternal Order if Eagles of Philadelphia; however, he was in arrears so there were no benefits there.
Baseball officials organized benefits for the family and donated cash themselves.