The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-04-26
Mr., Mssnste1-s Taking off.

Mr.. Munste1.'s Taking off.
"They say he committed suicide
because he thought that his young and
lovely wife had perished in the flames"
"Who?"
"Lord Munster, the wealthy Britisher
who married Miss Blanche Lynch several
months ago."
A Globe-Democrat reporter took hold
of the rumors, of which the above con-
versation is sample, and learned the
full facts in the case.
The marriage three months since of the
Hon. William Felix Austin Munster, of
Brighton, Sussex, England, to Miss
Blanche, daughter of DR.. II. G. Lynch,
a highly respected citizen Of St. Louis,
was brilliant social event. The bridal
party left on a tour to the South, and
ON the Grand Republic last Fri
day. They engaged board at the South
ern. Their rooms were on the fifth floor,
facing on Fourth Street. On the ill-fated
night, the husband and wife had retired
early. Under the influence of an opiate,
Mr.. Munster slept soundly. Mrs. Munster
awoke before the alarm became general,
and with difficulty aroused her husband.
Hastily dressing, they attempted to
escape by the halls. The smoke stitied
and blinded them. "We will smother
to DEATH" shrieked the wife, and to-
gether they returned to the room they
had just quilted, and closed the door.
They looked out of the window. No
ladders were up. The noise of the flames
was heard, and they knew that death
was near. There seemed to be no hope.
Some one hallooed up, "Make rope of
your Sheets" They made it. "Climb
down, Blanche" said the husband. She
started, but returned. "How will you
get down if you give me that rope ?''
said she. Will you be brave?' said he.
" Yes" Then we will die together"
He had revolver, and he said, We
will at least not burn to DEATH" At this
moment the door was burst in. Some
brave fellow lifted Mrs. Munster to his
and ran with her through the
halls. "My husband p she cried. He
and answered. Scorched, wet
and exhausted, they reached the street.
They were thinly clad. Together they
started for the residence of a relative.
Away out where the rich live-where
the homes are few. Out where the
street lamps sparkle over prairies like
glow worms in a rye field, and where in
winter the snow remains pure and white
for days, they walked hand in hand, and
at three o'clock reached the residence Of
Mr.. Frank J. Donovan, a relation of the
lady. To the inmates of the house they
told the story of the nights horror, and
Mr.. Donovan and DIR. Lynch, who hap
pened in the house over night, started
down to the scene of the fire.
r. Graham Frost, in reply to the
inquiry of Times reporter, will be ac-
cepted as reliable. Mr.. Frost's relations
with Mr.. Munster and Lynch family are
very intimate, and he was desirous that
a correct version of this sad occurrence
should reach the public ear. Said Mr..
Frost Munster knew that his wife
was safe, for he had taken her to Mrs.
Donovan's residence. He expressed
wish to come down town again with the
view of rendering assistance, a natural
desire under the awful circumstances, and
his wife said she could not object. He
came down, and after the fire had nearly
spent itself out he retired to rest, with
Conrey, at his room on Fourth and Oil
yer Streets. In the morning DR.. Lynch
and Donovan went to Conroy's room,
and they waited until Conroy and Mum
ster had complete dressing, with the view
of taking breakfast together. Munster
was the last to dress, and when he had
nearly completed his toilet the others
rose and left the room. One OF the party
turned to Conroy and said: How about
the key?' Conroy replied: "Oh, Mum
ster is the last, he will fix the door all
right" The words had scarcely escaped
his lips when they were horror-stricken
by loud report, and, turning back,
they beheld poor Munster on the floor
dead. A pistol belonging to Conroy,
which he kept in his bureau-drawer, was
found ON the carpet. Poor Munster was
shot through the under lip, the ball
lodging in the base of the skull. Those
are the facts, now for the theory. My
impression is that the poor fellows
nerves were completely unstrung by the
excitement of the escape from the burn
ing hotel. He was naturally of some
what nervous temperament, and he had
slept with Conroy several times; was
therefore, well posted in all the arrange
ments and appointments of the apart
ment. Conroy's pistol was in the upper
drawers of the bureau, and the draw er
was open when the others prepared to
leave the room. Munster in all proba.
bility took up the pistol to look at it,
and was handling it in a nervous manner
when the accident happened; an acci-
dent am convinced it was, for it is not
very likely that an intelligent man,
meditating suicide, would direct the
weapon to his mouth. He would direct
the discharge at his heart or his fore.
head.
The BON'S Dilemma.
The Free Press says that the other
night about ten o'clock, policeman
passing along Larned Street east came
upon boy who was walking up and
down in front of a house, and, when the
lad was asked if he lived there, and why
he did not 60 in, he replied:
Dads waiting for me with whip
Going to dust your jacket, is he?"
That's the programme" sighed the