The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-03-30

and he seemed 10 regard the results vi .h"' WEI
as "soution Of the enigma" as he solre4ucht-
ly expressed it.
At our parting, however, he repeated what he
had several times before said, that II he dd not
soon get relief it would certainly cost MN MS ne
made my wish that he should visit his brother
emphatic, and received from him parting pledge
that he would do so.
OF what occurred after Mr.. Trimble left the Col
onel on that Monday morning Qsth) we gather
the following particulars from the family, and
other sources.
Soon after Mr.. Trimblc left the Colonel took
the train pursuant to the previous understand
ing to 90 on visit to his brother IN Missouri
On arriving at Parsons-about half way-where
he must leave the cars and take the stage, he
changed his mind, and decided to return to Hum
boldt next day. In the night at the hotel at Par
sons he wrote in a memorandum book he carried
in his pocket as follows:
March Goth the date was evidently 18th. Des-
perate is my condition. Mistake after mistake
has followed the past few months Of my life until
my condition is beyond control. Here at Parsons
my wife and dear lttc ones out of home and
hundreds of miles from friends. God protect
them. II reason leaves me, which at times seems
probable.
Next day he returned to Humboldt and the
next day (20h) lie spent with his friend Ohm Hal-
laher in the country, and on returning at night
informed his family that the cloud from his NINA
had now lifted; that he had decided not TO BUY Il
farm, but would buy a home for them AT once ana
so into business.
In apparent pursuance of that purpose on next
dav Uhursday) he went to Ottawa, Kan, and re-
manned there over night While at the hotel that
night he seems to have written the following on
postal card, which after his death found in
his pocket.
My name is II. A. McCalcb. My family con
sisting of wife and four children are at Humboldt
kansas-n Col. Thurston's house. i hail from
Ottawa Illinois where am well known. If any
thing happens to me this night inform my folks
at Humboldt and telegraph to {. d. Trimble
Clerk of Supreme Court, OTTAWA, Ills.
II. A. MCCALEB
Next day he returned to Humboldt, his mind
in worse condition than ever, Saturday he rode
out with Mr. Berry, local land agent, looking
at farms near Humboldt returning home in the
evening. He manifested the utmost distress of
mind all that night, and in the morning hcsitated
long to leave his bed and breakfast was delayed
for him. Being reminded that the family wished
TO attend church, he rose and having breakfasted
| urged them away. During their absence, which
was less than an hour, he accomplished his self
| destruction which was done by first saturating
towel with chloroform, then suspcnding it on the
top baluster Of the hall stairway, and slipping his
head through the towel "a strong linen roller
| There was no moose, nor was he suspended by the
| towel. One knee rested on the floor and the 9th
| er leg and an arm were thrown across chair, so
that the strangulation must have been mainly
the result of hclplessncss from the effects of the
chloroform, of which an empty two ounce bottle
| was found in his pocket He was still warm when
found and vigorous efforts were made to rcsusi-
| tate him but without avail
| As further indication of the condition of his
mind, we publish the following additional extract
| from the memorandum book found in his pocket:
| March 4th, 1873, bruised IN spirit. llumbed to
| the very dust, with nothing between my wife and
little ones | loved SO dear, and absolute pauper-
ISM but the paltry sum of $500. Fifteen years
of toll and labor gonc-ALL GONE
| Can feel otherwise than crushed into the very
earth by circumstances over which had no con
trOl-ytS did have control over those who in
here leaf had been cut out,
that confidence TO tear me down and to build him
self up.
| Why these men coulS not act like mcn-why
they could not treat me generously and magnani-
| mously as did them is an absolute mystery to
me, and one which devclopcs weak side in hui
man nature never had dreamed of.
But the influences they have seen fit to produce
have made me slave and my little ones paupers
take them-tdke them o GOD under THY PRO
| TECTING CARE and may this cold world never
know how my poor heart has wrunS in anguish
at the AWFUL thought Of leaving my little ones
paupers. That had strven so hard and so earn
cstly to provide them comfortable home and a
happy home, but just when victory seemed with
in my rcach-all turned to ASHES. And oh! how
bitter and oh! how hcartless are the sneerS of
those who fawned around me in the hour of my
seeming prosperity. WHAT CAN | DO. THIS is
life? CAN DEATH BE WORSE?
Reason seems to depart, and g'ooo, and dark
despair seem to reign where once was hope and
happiness. Farewell. McC.
Soon as the calamity became known in Kansas, |
Mrs. McCalcb in her terrible situation happily
found herself at once surrounded ply u host of
friends through whom news of the event was
Immediately tclcgraphcd to Ottawa and arrange
ments made for the return of the body with |
the family to this city. All arrived here safely
on Tuesday, and on Wednesday the funeral took
place from the Methodist church, the Rev. T. K.
Strowbrdge officiating and preaching and im-
pressivc sermon on the occasion. Besides large
concourse of citizens in carriages and on foot,
the funeral was attended by the Ottawa company
of l. y. c., by the Knight Templars Masons, two
lodges of odd Fellows and the society of the \.
o. L. W, ofall of which orders Mr. McCalcd had
been member 1t was really one of the largest
and most impressive funerals our city has ever
witnessed though DRILLING rain was falling
most of the time.
Col McCaIeb was born AZ Magnolia, Putnam
County, H., February 10th, ISIS, and was there
fore 40 years of aye. In 1880 the family moved to
La Sale county, where he had since resided
working with his brothers on the farm. In Au-
gust, 1861 he enlisted in Company 18th III. Vol
infantry, and was Color-bcarcr of the rcgi-
ment in the battle Of Fort Donelson, where
he was severely wounded. On Lis recov-
cry he was promoted to a lieutcnancy, aud
afterwards to the command of the 9th regiment
/. : colorcd infantry His career as Il soldier