A Ghastly Discovery at Marshall's Wharf

On Wednesday evening, March 15th, at 8 o'clock, David Berry, a teamster on board the steamship Walla Walla, left that vessel, then lying at Marshall's wharf, expecting to go up street for half an hour or so. From the time he stepped over the side of the vessel on the gangplank, he was never seen alive. Search was made, but no clue could be obtained of his whereabouts, and it was finally conceded that he had fallen through one of the man-traps in the wharf and been drowned. Citizens and officers of the ship dragged for the body, but without success. The whole affair remained a mystery until yesterday morning, when J. J. Moon noticed the remains of a man floating near Harrington & Smith's wharf, 40 or 50 feet from where it is supposed Berry fell overboard. The body was taken in a skiff and lifted to the wharf. Dr. Kollock, the Coroner, summoned a jury and held an inquest over the body. For lack of witnesses to identify the remains, the jury did not render a decisive verdict. The flesh had all been eaten from the head, face and neck of the drowned man, rendering identification very difficult. Berry was quite well known by the writer, who yesterday viewed the remains, and there is no doubt in his mind that the remains are those of David Berry. The deceased was a sober, industrious young man, and a general favorite on the ship. Just before leaving the vessel on that fatal night, he took from his pocket about $10 and gave it to a companion on board for safe keeping. His friends state that he had a handsome bank account in New York city, as well as in San Francisco. The body will be given a Christian burial.