The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-26
A POETS SUICIDE.

The Late Major SiROurney-SiuguIar His
Snou.', '"0 ~"0r'"'" o' "o neh"'""'
Doubtless all, or nearly all, of the persons
who read this article have read and admired
little poem called "The Beautiful Snow" which,
Immediately on its appearance few years ago,
attracted attention.
On the night of Friday last Major William A.
II. SigOurney was found dead on the Blooming
dale road, New York. He was shot through the
head and all the circumstances of the case
showed that he had committed suicide few
hours before he was found. The body was
taken to the house of a friend in One Hundred
and Tenth street. where an inquest was held,
and whence it was removed to Greenwood
Cemetery and there buried. Upon his person
were found letters from Mr. Stephen Massett
deems Pipes), Mr.. j. jay Watson, and Mrs.
lydia II. Sigourney.
Major Sigourney was the nephew of Mrs. L.
II. Sigourney, the poet, and was born near St.
Albans, in Vermont. Early in life he married
Miss Amelia Josephine Fillmore, sister of Mr..
William Fillmore, OF New York, who was after.
wards associated with him in the publication of
a hebdomadal called the Golden Age. Miss Fill
more is said, by those who knew her, to have
been q beautiful woman.
The marriage, however, was by no means
happy one, and two years after 1t took place,
and while the pair were in Europe, rumor said
that she was unfaithful to her husband. Reports
of this sort made their way to the friends and
family of Mrs. Sigourney and when the couple
returned to this country, in 1852, they received
a chilling welcome. Apparently the wife was
bad by nature, for almost Immediately upon her
appearance in this city she entered upon life
OF shame, and 1t was not long before she was
lodged in Blackwells Island as a vagrant-
the passion for strong drink had ruined her.
Through the kind offices of Mr.. Henry ].
Raymond Major Sigourney succeeded in obtain
ing the release of his wife, but all endeavors to
reform her proved unavailing, and il was not
long before she returned to her evil ways. In
the autumn of 1858 she left her husband and he
heard no more of her till he learned through
the papers that she had been found dead in
White street, frozen and buried under the snow,
which had fallen upon her.
The papers had spoken of her simply as
young and beautiful woman, but some circum-
stances connected with the case led Sigourney
to think that the dead woman was his wife, and
further examination showed that it was she.
He had her buried in Greenwood Cemetery,
Mr.. Raymond again befriending him and defray-
ing the funeral expenses. 1t was in memory of
this woman and her sad death that Sigourney
Beautiful Snow" and published it in the Golden
Ace of the first week of January, 1854.
After the death of his first wife he again mar
ried, and appears always to have been in desti-
| tute circumstances occasiOned either by his
own neglect of opportunities or constitutional
| inability to keep money after he had made it,
| His life was rowing one; now he was busy at
| one thing, and now at another. His health was
| not good, and some time ago pulmonary affec-
tion forced him to relinquish his place as editor
| of the St. Albans Messenger. At various times
he contributed articles to the New York papers,
but as may readily be conceived did not make
sufficient money in this way to support his
family, or, at least, to provide for its support
after his death, and his suicide has left them
| poor.
For some time before his death he had con-
| tributed stories and poems to Packdrds S
Monthly, the Dispatch, and other publications,
| and the urgency with which he asked that the
money for them should be sent to him las soon
as possible" shows that he was sadly in need of
| it; indeed, he said that he was starving. One ef
| his letters reminds one of Poe's to N. P. Willis,
| begging for five dollars to keep him alive. 1t
reads, "For Gods sake send me some money,
no matter how little, as quickly as you can.
| Ny child cried for bread this morning, and l
had none to give" This was written but a short
! time ago, and from it the reason of the self
murder may easily be conjectured.