ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE HARBOR.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 66, 21 March 1881, Page 2

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE HARBOR.

What appears to have been a prenfeditated attempt to commit suicide occurred in Wellington about half -past 12 o'clock this afternoon. The attention of several, persons was attracted to a man standing at the end of the outer T on the Queen's Wharf, who proved to be Mr. Henry Anderson, long and widely known in this city as a journalist, and who was observed to gaze intently at the water for some minutes, and afterwards deliberately leap off the pier. A -cry of "man overboard" was instantly I raised, and two or three men employed oil board a steamer close at hand scrambled on to a stringer, and, by placing a rope underneath Anderson's arms, succeeded in dragging: him on the -wharf. Mr. Monteith, chemist, who chanced to be passing near the spot at the time, examined Anderson, who, at hie suggestion, was conveyed in an express to the Hospital. When taken out of the water, he was in an insensible condition. It is said that for some time past he has been in a very desponding frame of mind, and subject to fits of mental depression. At the Hospital he was attended by Dr. Collins. Shortly after his admission into that institution Anderson recovered his speech, and requested his attendants to be " very carcfr.l as to the manner in which they handled him, as he was a powerful man." Subsequently, he jumped out of bed and assaulted the doctor, tearing the buttons off bis coat. Lying in an adjoining bed was a patient Buffering from a broken leg. Anderson's violent behaviour was such as to cause considerable anxiety, and eventually a constable was specially told off to watch his movements, lest he might commit serions damage.