| Despair led gold mining engineer
to take his own life
BY
FRANKLIN SCARBOROUGH
SALISBURY POST |
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The story of Walter George Newman's 17-year adventure in the mines of Gold Hill is an old
one. Walter George might be called the last tycoon of Gold Hill. He came here in 1898 and
left broke in 1915.
But the story of his brother, Joseph Newman, is not so well-known. Joe came here several
years before Walter George as a mining engineer. His story ended a hundred years ago this
April, according to an article in the April 18, 1900, issue of The Salisbury Truth-Index.
In his diary, he said: 'Life is not worth the living.'
The newspaper story went on to say:
'Sad and pathetic beyond all description was the death of Capt. Joseph J. Newman, who took
his own life yesterday morning, and the motive for the deed is found in the above
quotation taken from his dairy.
'It was the despairing verdict of a toppling intellect - the rash and hopeless appeal of a
diseased mind to the impotent fates - and then the plunge to death.
'There is no question in the minds of those that knew Joe Newman best and had been most
intimately associated with him for the past few months but that he was on a mental
decline. With recurring attacks of a physical ailment, he suffered intensely, and to this
is attributed his weakness.
'He has frequently threatened to commit suicide while in a condition of melancholia and
repeated the threat last Saturday. No attention was paid to it, however, it having been so
often repeated, and those who heard him say that he meant to die gave the matter no
further thought until yesterday morning, when he was missing from Gold Hill.
'Capt. W. Murdoch Wiley, a lifelong friend of Mr. Newman, inquired for him shortly after
noon yesterday at the Union Copper Mine. He had not been seen during the day, and as Capt.
Wiley had an important message to deliver, he started towards Dutch Creek mine, which
property Mr. Newman has controlled for many years.
'On the road he met two young men who advised him that Mr. Newman's house had almost been
demolished by an explosion and that there was a body in the debris. Inquiry proved that
several persons had heard the explosion about 4 o'clock Tuesday morning but no one had
been to the scene of the tragedy until about noon.
'By the side of a tree near the house were found Mr. Newman's purse, watch and a diary,
which showed that he had deliberated upon the step. The diary noted as follows:
'Diary of a Suicide. The fates are against me.
'1900. The dawn opens to me void of life, light, home and comfort and continues so for
months.
'Feb. 22. Life is not worth the living.
'April 17, 12:01 a.m. Decided to come to Dutch Creek and die, it being my own natural
home. By 3:45 a.m. I will be gone home.
'April 17, 12:10 a.m. Decided to come here and give up the ghost, if ghost there be.
'12:25 a.m. Left Gold Hill.
'2 a.m. Unhitched and fed and went to the old house.
'3 a.m. I realize that I am not insane, but of sound mind and body. I know life is not
worth the living - that the fates are against me.
'3:10 a.m. I find fuse, caps and dynamite with which to blow all that is mortal of me to
eternity. What is found of me, bury without a coffin by the side of the largest oak tree
in the old graveyard on Dutch Creek. Mr. Wm. Murdoch Wiley will pay what I owe the men who
worked for me.'
The Truth-Index reporter arrived to describe the scene: 'One side of the house was
entirely blown away and in the end of the room lay Mr. Newman's remains on a bed. It was
evident from the condition of the body that he had placed dynamite on his breast and,
lying on the bed fully clothed, lit the fuse and awaited the end. Death came with the
explosion. Mr. Newman's remains were badly mangled, one hand being found in the yard some
distance from the body.'
The newspaper story went on to relate Newman's background:
'Capt. J. J. Newman was a native of Virginia and was about 50 years old. He came to
Salisbury about 18 years ago and has resided here continuously since that time. He was a
mining engineer by profession and ranked well in the eyes of the mining world. He has been
associated with others in the development of many famous mines in this section and has
frequently contributed articles to the leading mining and scientific journals of this
country.
'Through his instrumentality his brother, Mr. Walter George Newman of New York, became
interested in the copper ore of Rowan County, which was followed by the mammoth operations
of the Union Copper Mine.
'Personally, Mr. Newman was a man of strong likes and dislikes. He wasn't everybody's
friend for the reason that he was a man of positive convictions and had the courage of his
convictions.
'But he was as tender-hearted as a woman. Perhaps no man has cheered more sick persons in
Salisbury than J. J. Newman. Night after night has he been known to sit up with the sick
and dying when his own physical condition demanded rest.
'Joe Newman was loyal as a citizen filled with pride for his town and ever eager to
advance her interests. He was a communicant of no church but attended frequently the
various churches of the city. He was a member of the Knights of Phythias.'
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