The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-31 00:00:00

MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A NE ws.

PAPER EDITOR.

A fortnight ago a man was found in a strawstack,
near Stobhill Brick-works, Morpeth, where, accord-
ing to his statement—and which was corroborated
by a diary he had kept for a few weeks previous, in
which entries appear to have been regularly made
up to the time of his entering the stack—he had
been concealed without food or drink for a fort-
night. He was then removed by the police to the
workhouse hospital, where, in consequence of the
swollen condition of his feet, his Wellington boots
had to be cut off. Owing to privation and the
long-continued pressure of his boots acting
on a system debilitated previously by habitual
intemperance, and notwithstanding the cautious
administration of food and warmth, mortification of
both feet set in, to which he succumbed on Tuesday
night, at eleven o'clock, at the age of 36 years.

The last weeks of his existence are full of painful
interest. He was living at Falkirk, in which place
he was at once editor and proprietor of a penny
weekly
newspaper, the Falkirk Liberal, in the
columns of which he wrote a " leader" of passing
events weekly, under the somewhat singular cog-
nomen of "The Cock of the Steeple," some of them
bearing evidence of considerable talent. He was
also a poet of no mean order.
Finding the speculation of his newspaper not
turning out a profitable one he relinquished it, and
wended his way to Edinburgh, in the hope of find-
ing employment ; here he had indulged in potations
long and deep, and in his cups had stumbled into
one of the numerous dens of infamy which abound
in the High-street, where he was not long in find-
inghis whole
seized
toc stock ofm him, and he
pounds—almostsmelofnmeyin.usitthermeoersenow
resolved on the terrible alternative of committing
suicide. At a druggist's shop in George-street he
purc'iased a large quantity of laudanum, which he
shortly afterwards swallowed, committing a not
uncommon mistake by self-murderers who wish to
make assurance doubly sure, namely swallowing
too large a dose, which caused him to vomit the
whole of it. His life was consequently spared for
a brief period longer, and he started on foot south-
ward, Newcastle being his intended destination.
He had made daily entries in his journal, which
was composed of scraps of newspaper productions
from his own pen, and in which was the entry re-
lating to his taking laudanum. On reaching Mor-
peth it was late in the evening, when he spent his
last penny on a roll, and mistaking the road leading
past the railway station for the Newcastle-road,
fatigue overpowered him, and he crept into the
stack and covered himself over with straw, with
the intention of sleeping or starving to death, as is
evinced by the last entry in his diary.
His name was Alexander Birnie, a Scotchman, of
middle height, apparently 36 years of age, his face
adorned with a flowing beard and moustache. His
religious persuasion was of the Baptist denomina-
tion, and he was visited daily by the Rev. Dr. An-
derson, and was attended by the surgeon to the
hospital, Dr. loblin ; and Messrs. Gibson and
Creighton, surgeons.

The following are the entries in the diary already
alluded to .

" Feb. B.—Whoever finds me send word to
Falkirk, to James Wyse, ironmonger. I was robbed
last night of about £3, all I had, and a suit of
clothes.—The Cock of the Steeple.
" Feb. 10.—The third day, and have not had a
morsel of food.

Tuesday, Feb. 11.—I have had but a piece of
coarse bread since Monday last. Surely the bitter-
ness of death is past. Since then I have travelled
from Edinburgh. My existence has been a curse to
myself and to everybody connected with me, through
my own folly. Send word to James Wyse, iron-
monger, Falkirk, that the Cock of the Steeple was
found dead, and where. Send word to James
Graham, Chester-le-street, Durham, my wife's
brother. God help her and my poor children. I
drank laudanum on Saturday in Edinburgh, but
vomited it.

" Wednesday, Feb. 12.—Another day and not a
bit of food ; five days—only a bit of coarse bread.
Nothing stronger than water has entered my lips,
my clothes have never been off, nor have I been in
a bed. The side of a hayrick or a plantaticn has
been my bed. But I am justly punished. Don't
bury Me like a dog ; my articles and epeeches in this
book will show that I deserved better. I had no
idea that the body, especially one so feeble as mine
apparently, was capable of so much endurance.
Since Saturday morning last I have lived on about
twopenny worth of bread, with no other drink than
water. I have never been in bed, seldom under a
covering, and then only some straw, save one night
I lay in a pit hut.

" Thursday, 13th.—I have now lain under some
straw by a haystack, near Morpeth, last night and all
day. God knows if ever I will be able to proceed
any further. I would like to have got to Chester-
le-street, to be buried there, that my poor wife, when
she looked on my grave, might forgive and weep.
" Friday, 14th—Still lying here, but very weak.
Just a week since I left Falkirk Manse. I could
only raise £3 10s. to pay my printer's account.
What a .... of suffering it has been, but I trust it
has been for my good. Speak kindly of me to my
children. I am not able to walk, but I have strength
in the ordinary sense. Ido not feel, but a painful
drawing of breath every time I breathe. Friday
afternoon, Feb. 14—Life is a torment. I have mis-
spent it. No man bad ever better opportunities, or
made worse of them. Send word to Falkirk; say
the Cock of the Steeple' is dead.' I forsook God,
and he has forsaken me. Let my wretched fate be
a warning to all, especially that they never drink
strong drink; it and unlawful lust have been my
ruin. 0 God, have mercy upon me for the sake of
Jesus. Five or six days and nights alone, with con-
science on the past life, and God, have a merciful
effect upon my mind. If I die now, I die not
without hope, I believe, but with trembling.
" Saturday, 15th—One week my punishment has
'lasted. I still lie here, bat very weak and much
pained in the bowels.

" Sabbath, 16th—Another day without food or
drink ; cold. When will the trial be over ?

" Monday, 17th--0 God, grant me patience !
" Tuesday, 18th—Alone, without a soul to see or
speak to, a bit of bread or a drop of drink for six
days and nights. How long can it be P
" Wednesday, 19th—This cannot hold out long.
Help, 0 Lord.
a
Friday, 21st—The ninth day without food. Got
drink of water last night.
" Sabbath, 23d—Eleven days. My legs are use-
less. 0 God, when will it end
" Monday, 24th—Oh,
lam weary. One part of
my body appears to be dead. I cannot go for a
drink now. Feb.
24—Seventeen days suffering ;
during that time had twice apiece of bread,l2 days
without a morsel.
"Tuesday, 26th—Death comes on wait. I
meet
Oh He has
saved me, yet so as by fire, these 13 days. 0 bless
ehi m thout fear. Jesus is all.
Him for them ; to him I commit my soul, my
memory, my family, my all. Amen,
ALEXANDER BIRNIE.
if Some kind hand may make a selection of my
articles and speeches, in this and in another at
Chester-le-street, in the Chester-le-Street Liberal
and Falkirk. Advertiser and Liberal, and publish
them on behalf of my widow and family."
The deceased was well-known in this neighbour-
hood during his connection with the Chester Libe-
ral.

AUGURIES OF THE FUTURE.—By far the most
Popular systems of prognostication are those founded on
dreams and cards. No book of fate is complete without a
catalogue of the meanings attached to every card in the
pack, and there are dream dictionaries in profusion. In the
case of dreams the approved method of interpretation ap-
pears to be to attribute to the object dreamed of a signifi-
cance either natural or appropriate, or diametrically con-
trary to the obvious idea which it suggests. For instance,
crutches denote sickness and misery,
angels good fortune,
and bagpipes vexation of spirit; while, on the other hand,
death is held to indicate happiness and long life ; drown-
ing, good fortune,. and marriage, death. Sometimes .!he
interpretation is whimsical, so that " to dream you are going
to be hanged is a sign you will rise above your present con-
of a sweetheart to the single,
dition by marriage ;" 4' to dream of geese is good—expect
to see soon a long absent friend." Others are simply absurd.
or carrots of profit in lawsuits
Why should dreaming you wear a tail be a token of profit,
a long nose of richekboots
friends to the married,
OWN INek.