The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-08-09

shall be invested in the works of Darwin.
Tyndall and Huxley, and the same shall be
presented to the town library in my name |
My reason for thus putting period to my
life is that / have endured the manifold |
of existence as long as desire To, |
and my only wish now is to plunge into the |
eternal, soundless, lfeless gulf of uncon.
sciousness. The death of the body is the |
Of the man and annihlation
is eternal peace. Before destroying myself,
| shall read my auditors and death witnesses
an original, lecture, in which / shall justify
suicide. In all seriousness,
G. w. BURLEIGH.
1t may be surmised that this remarkable
notice awakened degree of interest and ex-
citement in our town net often felt here.
Soon it was the theme of every tongue, and
ere nightfall every villager and every coun-
tryman, who had come to town to attend
church, was informed of this amazing an
ncuncement. Many set the author of it
down as suddenly developed lunatic
Others believed it was merely his intention
to create sensation and perpetrate Joke
on the community. But the few whose in.
sight into human nature was deeper enter
tained but little doubt of the seriousness of
the author of this strange aud blood.curdling
announcement, They had noticed the pecu.
liarity of the man-his seasons of gloomy
and morose meditation. They remembered
his arguments against the immortality of the
soul--his refutation of the idea of hereaf.
ter,and they shook their heads gravely Not.
withstanding Burleigh's announcement of his
bloody intentions upon himself, determin.
alton was soon generally manifest among
our citizens to prevent his crime. However
strong and very general desire prevailed to
see how far he really would carry out hi. Az
nounced intention and our citizens cou.
cluded to let him go so far as the reading of
his lecture, and then, by well arr .,yri
stratagem, to gain control Of his person and
endeavor to reason him out of his rash pur-
pose. But they had not calculated the
coolness and strength of Burleigh's deterini-
nation to effect his end. All day Sunday
Burleigh kept himself closely secluded in his
room and, with the exception of two Of Our
local clergymen, he refused admission to any
one on any pretext At Up. m. he pcrmi,
ted brief admission to the Rev. Mr.. Viii.
cox and the Rev. Mr.. Burton. He allowed
these gentlemen to expostulate with him un-
til quarter of three, and then dismissed
them, cou!teously declining their offers of
prayer in his behalf They report that he
listened to their arguments calmly, and an.
swered them as calmly, but that all their ef.,
forts failed to weaken his resolution. Dur.
ing his long seclusion, from Saturday morn
ing to Monday morning, Burleigh was doubt
less engaged in writing his lecture on ''The
Justification of Suicide"
During Monday he walked the streets
most OF the time, refusing to enter into con.
versation with anybody. Almost the whole
time OF his stay here he has kept bachelors s
hall, and this circumstance has enabled him
to make his seclusion complete when he
chose to do so. He continued his self.im.
murement all day yesterday until O'Clock
in the evening, when he came forth and
walked brskly about town for half an hour.
He then repaired to Thornton hall, to make
the final preparations for his violent end
1t was at that time clear that his audience
would be very large one. Early Tuesday
evening vehicles began to arrive numerously
from the rural districts. By light O'CLOCK
fully one hundred and fifty persons had pur
| chased admission tickets to the scene of tb,
interesting event, which many though
would not happen, and some thought woule
happen. Burlegh himself acted as door
keeper, and no children were allowed admis
sion. The audience was composed of mel
and women in the ratio of three of the for
mer to one of the latter. At exactly tel
minutes after eight Burleigh closed the door
walked forward with a firm, deliberate stey
to the platform, took his stand behind
temporary desk he had erected. bowed grace
fully to the audience,and Immediately begal
the delivery of his lecture. While Burleigl
was attending to the duties of doorkeeper
couple Of stout citizens had secreted them
selves in small side room that opened nea
the speakers stand Their intention was t
overpOwer Burleigh, who is small man, a
the close of his lecture. The failure of thi
plan proved that Burleigh had in some man
ner gained knowledge of its existence anc
that he had planned most eifectually to rem
der it futile. The delivery of the lecture oc.
cupied just one hour and ten minutes, and
during that time the audience was held
spell.bound. The stage manners of the lee
turer plainly indicated that he was no novice
in public speaking. His voice was clear
distinct and musical, bearing evidence OF
his scholarship in elocution. His modula.
| tion was simply perfect. The lecture was
certainly masterpiece of infdel reasoning,
and its language was most powerful and for
chile. He bad studied to make it end in
such manner that its end would be unsus.
pected. As soon as he had finished he step.
ped quickly backward until he reached the
middle of the stage, and with a lightning
movement drew DerriDger from his hip
pocket, and while Messrs. Gibbs and Nor.
ton were rushing upon him, he placed the
pistol to his forehead and fired, falling into
the arms of those who had sought to save
him. During this act women screamed and
tainted, and strong men groaned aloud
The scene was such as will haunt one viyidly
to his dying day, 1t was the embodiment
of the horrible and terrible. The large sized
ball had literally torn Burleigh's skull to
atoms. His death was instantaneous. Since
the consummation of this fearful tragedy :
depression of horror has prevailed the COM
munity. The deepest sorrow prevails at
this wanton destruction of so noble an intel
lectnal structure. Burleigh left request In
his room that his body be forwarded to his
friends in Cincinnati, This will be done i'm
mediately.