White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1866-07-05
Attempted Suicide Of Gen. Lane!
PROBABLY FATAL.

PROBABLY FATAL!
No recent event has caused more excite
ment than the report that Senator Lane
had committed suicide. on Sunday even
ing. The circumstances are a. follows,
Is contained in the Leavenworth dispatch
announcing the occurrence
LEAvENwonTH. July 2.-Senator james
H. Lane shot himself last evening about
5 o'clock. with a revolver. inAicting q
wound which resulted in bis death At 9
this morning. The ball entered the
month and came out at the top Of the
skull. He was stopping with brother
in law, Mr. Mccall, at the Government
farm near TT. Lesvenworth. Gen. Lane
had been i'll for some time. and was con-
fined to his room at the Lindell Hotel iu
St. Louis for several days. He arrived
here on Friday last. accompanied by .
physician from st. Louis. /, He had been
acting stragely for several days so much
90 that careful watch was kept over him.
Last evening he started for ride. accom-
panied by his brotber-in law and Capt.
Adams. brother of his son-in-law, Col.
Adams. Coming to gate which opens
to the farm. Mr.. Mccall got ont to open
it, and Gen. Lane also got out on some
pretence. Stepping to he rear Of the
wagon. be drew . small pistol from his
coat pocket. and exclaiming, "Good-bye,
Mac" instantly shot himself. as before
described. He was at once removed to
the house, where every attention was paid
him. This fatal act was undoubtedly the
result of temporary mental alteration.
1t is understood that he is the third mem
Der Of the family who has thus destroyed
himself.
The report of Lanes death was prema-
ture. Our lateet news from him. on
Wednssdsy evening, was that he was still
alive. and growing better. He had opened
his eyes. and spoken twice. and appssrd
to have somewhat recovered bis conscious.
ness. Lanes opponents have never been
able to kill him of, and if be cannot kill
himself. he might be set down as truly
irrepressible. But if he RECEIVERS from
this wound, it will be almost miraculous,
Gen. Lanes well. known private habits.
ana his constant and indomitable energy
in personal and public matters, were o
severe and constant strain upon his sys.
ten. and would have long ego killed q
man of less iron constitution. He was
never at rest, and it is remarkable how
be kept up so long. When his nerves al
length yielded. his prostration was rapid
and severe. He had been to Kansas, ev.
identity for the purpose Of controlling the
action of the republican Central Com.
mittee and advancing the Presidents in.
interest; but when he arrived be found tha,
be had lost the confidence of the people
whom be had been wont to control as he
pleased ;and old friends, whom the psrsecu-
tion of his enemies could never drive from
him, bad become es:ranged by his deser,
tion of the principles which had secured
him their support in the past. His mental
broodipgs over this reverse. added to bis
PHYSICAL debility. was more than be could
bear up undsr. and the result was tbs
attempt upon bis own life. which may
yet prove fatal. sa
Lanes political enemies even could
wish him better fate than this. His
wonderful tact and energy. had it always
been directed toward elevsting and puri-
Tying instead Of demoralizing and corrupt
ing. would have accomplished an i'm
mense amount Of good. and made him
one Of the leading men of the nation
His influence in Kansas had been un-
bounded ;and it is no wonder that be was
disguised with life. when he found that
be had lost the confidence of such friends
IS had stood by him here.
Suicide is no new event in his family.
One Of bis brothers cut his own throat in
q fit of temporary derangement-report
say that two brothers committed suicide.
The act appears to have been no sudden
idea with himself It is related of him.
that Immediately after his first election to
the Ssnsts,i in which contest bis cbsaces had
been desperate, friend asked him what be
would have done if be had failei? Lane
pulling out pistol, replied that il he had
received information that he was beaten,
be should haye blown out bis brains on
the spot. II was bis last and only. hope
-he had worked and lived for that DO.
sition-and il he failed, be had made up
his mind to live no longer.
WHo Is TO BLAME LII people grow