The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-08-03

4
telegram from Des MONIES stating
that Miss Clara Rumsey, his wife's
sister, at the time staying with Mr..
and Mrs. l. N. Hartzell, another sis
ter and her husband, was dead. Mr..
and Mrs. Neiman accordingly started
on the evening !.s,a fns the Capital,
and reached there Saturday morning
to find indeed a sad situation.
Miss Clara, who left here last April,
confidently expecting to secure
situation in the Des Moines public
schools, was disappointed then, and
again when the teachers were elected
for next year. OF u melancholy and
Responding disposition, when a week
Of indisposition with some physical
pain was added, she became entirely
cast down and sought escape by her
own rash hand We find the follow
ing details in Saturdays State Reg
tster:
The place of the suicide was at the
residence of Mr.. /. n Hartzell, 1920
east Walnut street. The unfortunate
girl had been unwell for several days,
but was over in the city shopping, IN
company with friends, Thursday af
ternoon. Yesterday morning she
was feeling worse than usual, but still
was up and around. She was accus-
toned to do 4 part Of the chamber
work, and as usual yesterday perform
ed this duty. Mr.. w. IT, Fleming
and Captain Foster board at the
house, but Mr.. Fleming was out Of
the city. During the last week the
burglars have disturbed the house and
as consequence Mr.. Foster has had
his revolver loaded and lying under
his pillow. 1t was large seven
shooter navy revolver, and IN ugly
looking instrument. Clara cleaned
this room occupied by Mr.. Foster,
aud in making the bed as usual found
this revolver still under the pillow
She took it out as was her custom and
laid it on shelf in an open book
case. This is known, as Mrs. Harizell
went up stairs after The work was
completed, aud saw the revolver lying
there. Mrs. Hartzeli went down
stairs, shortly, and into the yard to
hang cut the washing. About ten
o'clock she heard loud noise in the
house, but supposed it was door
slamming, until Mrs. Stone, who
boarded at the place, rushed out say
ing that Clara had shot herself.
Alarmed beyond expression she
rushed up stairs and there saw
sight that will impress itself on her
mind as long as life lasts. Clara
Rumsey lay stretched upon the floor,
yet gasping but unconscious, while
her life blood oozed through her gar
ments from a wound in her left breast.
Tue sister spoke, but no answer
came, and in a moment life was ex-
tinguished and the girls soul had
rushed into the presence Of her Maker.
This was III the room occupied by
Captain Foster. The revolver lay
at the girls feet, and the body was
lying straight out upon the floor.
When Mrs. Hartzel first reached the
girl her apron was on fire, showing
that the muzzlc had been placed
close to the body when the shot was
fred. Inasmuch as the body was
found very close to the bool, case
where the revolver usually laid; it
was at first supposed that the shoot
ing was accidental; that the girl had
endcavored to take it from its place,
and in doing so had accidentally |
killed herself. This supposition was
of brief duration, for soon thereafter
the following note, written en- soft
paper and partially covered with the
blood OF the unfortunate girl, was
found on her right breast between the
bib of her apron and her dress:
81 feel that life cannot be endured any
longer. So far it has been II failure. The /
future looks even darker yet, and now, with
a cool hand and steady nerve, am going |
to meet my fate whatever it may be. God |
pity me and forgive me-"
This was all. Without one good
bye word to friends or relations the
girl had rushed into the great beyond
with only this explanation for the
rash deed. The note was written in
a plain, firm, and neat hand, without
any indication of trembling, showing
that the girl had firmly determined
upon her purpose and as firmly car
ried it out to the bitter and sad end.
Mr.. Hartzell was away at the time at
the store Of w. I. Painter for whom
he is book keeper. He was called
and soon summoned the Coroner.
There was little to be adduced in
the way of evidence, and the verdict
was in accordance with the above
facts. The funeral took place at four
o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The deceased was nineteen years Of
age, and was prepossessing in appear
ance as well as bright and intelligent.
Upton has been her home almost if
not quite all her life, and there are
many here who will have a tear and |
sigh for friend and playmate thus
early fallen by the wayside.