Lewis Hotchkiss (Barge), suicide ?, 27 Oct 1871

SUPPOSED SUICIDE OF CAPT. JOHN McDONALD. - We briefly announced on Saturday that Capt. John McDonald, of the Canadian barge HOTCHKISS, had committed suicide on Friday. There is a mystery of a painful nature connected with the affair. It appears that an old friend of Capt. McDonald saw the master at an early hour on Friday morning, pacing the deck of his vessel, which was lying at the dock at the foot of Michigan Street. He was in an agitated state of mind. He said he could neither eat nor sleep, and felt that something, he knew not what, was the matter with him.
      On Friday morning - at which time Capt. McDonald was last seen - he was on board the vessel, and appeared in his usual spirits. On Saturday morning he was missing, and on going into the cabin some of those belonging to the vessel discovered a large quantity of blood upon the floor, and a small knife, with blood on the blade, lying near. There were marks of blood up the cabin stairs, and also on the rail of the vessel; and it is believed that the captain, while in a state of temporary insanity, attempted to take his life with the knife, an
afterwards reached the deck and jumped or fell overboard.
      Capt. McDonald was between forty and forty-five years of age, and lived at Collingwood, where he leaves a wife and family. He has navigated the lakes for a number of years.
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      Monday, October 30, 1871



Barge LEWIS HOTCHKISS. [no number] Of 1001 tons register. Built Collingwood, Ont., 1871. Home port, Toronto, Ont. 205.0 x 36.8 x 13.0 Owned by Muskoka Mill and Lumber Co/., Toronto.
      List of Vessels on the Registry Books of the
      Dominion of Canada on December 31, 1886