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Robert McBryde Berrey

Birth
Virginia, USA
Death
6 Jul 1903 (aged 24)
Fredericksburg City, Virginia, USA
Burial
Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg City, Virginia, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section 8, Lot 81, unmarked
Memorial ID
View Source
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Robert M. Berrey Dead.
- Shot himself on Free Bridge and then jumped or fell in the river. -
A terrible tragedy was enacted on the Free Bridge last night, and as a result the dead body of Mister Robert McBryde Berrey is somewhere in the Rappahannock River. The circumstances under which he he met his death are particularly sad and at the same time uncertain. The young man, from the best evidence obtainable, had been drinking to some extent during the afternoon and was under the influence of liquor when he went on the bridge at about 9 o'clock. In company with Carl Brammett, an acquaintance, he walked back and forth across the bridge several times and finally, Brammett becoming tired, Berrey started over by himself. Half way across he stopped to chat with Mr. Eugene Watson and a lady friend of the latter's, who happened to be on the bridge at that time. They described him as having been in a highly nervous state of mind and say that he talked at random and seemed to be excited. Leaving Mr. Watson and his friend, the young man proceeded towards the Stafford end of the bridge and stopped about seventy-five yards from the other shore. Shortly afterwards Watson and his companion heard the report of a revolver and immediately following heard cries from Berrey as be fell or jumped from the bridge.
Unable to tell whether he heard the shots or not, Watson rushed to the side of the structure and saw Berrey as if in the act of wading towards shore. He reached a point about twenty-five or thirty feet from same when he suddenly became engulfed in the swift water, the river being high from recent rains, and was seen no more. They immediately gave the alarm and in a short time a large crowd had gathered on the bridge and immediate arrangements made to drag for the body. This was done all all night and has been continued today, but so far without success.
Young Berrey, who was an employee of W.L. Brannan's grocery store, was the only son of the late Clerk of the Courts here, the lamented Robert D. Berrey, and is survived by his mother, with whom be lived on Main Street. He was a member of Rappahannock Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, and was one of the best known young men in this city. His untimely death and the sad circumstances surrounding same have thrown a gloom over a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and has prostrated his widowed mother with grief. (Fredericksburg) The Daily Star - July 7, 1903.
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BODY RECOVERED
- The Remains of Robert McBryde Berrey Found in the River. -
Three youths, John Wright, Charley Stone and Charley Bauman, were walking on the R.F.& P. R.R. Co's. bridge Wednesday evening when they discovered the body of Robert McBryde Berrey. The body was in an upright position against the pier of the railroad bridge near the Stafford shore. Wright first saw the body, and the boys immediately procured a boat and brought the body over to the city. The heartfelt and sincere sympathies of all our people go out to his mother, who is a widow, and this was her only child.
(Fredericksburg) The Free Lance - July 9, 1903.
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Robert M. Berrey Dead.
- Shot himself on Free Bridge and then jumped or fell in the river. -
A terrible tragedy was enacted on the Free Bridge last night, and as a result the dead body of Mister Robert McBryde Berrey is somewhere in the Rappahannock River. The circumstances under which he he met his death are particularly sad and at the same time uncertain. The young man, from the best evidence obtainable, had been drinking to some extent during the afternoon and was under the influence of liquor when he went on the bridge at about 9 o'clock. In company with Carl Brammett, an acquaintance, he walked back and forth across the bridge several times and finally, Brammett becoming tired, Berrey started over by himself. Half way across he stopped to chat with Mr. Eugene Watson and a lady friend of the latter's, who happened to be on the bridge at that time. They described him as having been in a highly nervous state of mind and say that he talked at random and seemed to be excited. Leaving Mr. Watson and his friend, the young man proceeded towards the Stafford end of the bridge and stopped about seventy-five yards from the other shore. Shortly afterwards Watson and his companion heard the report of a revolver and immediately following heard cries from Berrey as be fell or jumped from the bridge.
Unable to tell whether he heard the shots or not, Watson rushed to the side of the structure and saw Berrey as if in the act of wading towards shore. He reached a point about twenty-five or thirty feet from same when he suddenly became engulfed in the swift water, the river being high from recent rains, and was seen no more. They immediately gave the alarm and in a short time a large crowd had gathered on the bridge and immediate arrangements made to drag for the body. This was done all all night and has been continued today, but so far without success.
Young Berrey, who was an employee of W.L. Brannan's grocery store, was the only son of the late Clerk of the Courts here, the lamented Robert D. Berrey, and is survived by his mother, with whom be lived on Main Street. He was a member of Rappahannock Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, and was one of the best known young men in this city. His untimely death and the sad circumstances surrounding same have thrown a gloom over a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and has prostrated his widowed mother with grief. (Fredericksburg) The Daily Star - July 7, 1903.
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BODY RECOVERED
- The Remains of Robert McBryde Berrey Found in the River. -
Three youths, John Wright, Charley Stone and Charley Bauman, were walking on the R.F.& P. R.R. Co's. bridge Wednesday evening when they discovered the body of Robert McBryde Berrey. The body was in an upright position against the pier of the railroad bridge near the Stafford shore. Wright first saw the body, and the boys immediately procured a boat and brought the body over to the city. The heartfelt and sincere sympathies of all our people go out to his mother, who is a widow, and this was her only child.
(Fredericksburg) The Free Lance - July 9, 1903.
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Bio by: BigFrench



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