Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-10-18

gratifying, however, to know that th
I1nher1tors or our magnificent domail
have awakened to q realization of thei
wealth, and are eagerly, seizing the pres
ent opportunity for material -advance
ment. A reflux tide of emigration fron
the West will yet pour into the south
would say to our young men stay q
home; identify yourselves with the ney
era, and, with reasonable diligence
your fortunes are assured. A. q. 8.
William +. C. Gregory, Jr.
AN ACCOUNT or THE CLOSING DAY O,
HIS LIFE BY A FRIEND AND FELLOW
BoARDER.
Letter in the New York SUM-
L WASHINGTON, October 1.-The suicid,
Of Mr.. William F. Gregory in this city
on Thursday is regarded by all who
knew him, and who knew his circum-
stances in life, as being so very re-
markable as to deserve more than 9
mere telegraphic announcement. Hav.
ing known him well for two years OF
more, and being, as fellow boarder
intimately acquainted with the facts,
think am not mistaken in regarding
them as extraordinary. He was twenty
one years of age, the son and only child
Of highly respectable parents, Of Rich
mond, Va. His father, of the same
name. is member of the Bar, of some
eminence, and in good practice. Both
father and mother, rs I happened to
know, loved the son with devotion
almost amounting to idolatry. He had
ha1 ho ~ soJ, ;v.r ~ L., .
folding room of the House of Represen-
ed him competent support, and ena-
bled him In his leisure hours to read law
and attend the lectures of the Columbi-
an University, from which institution
he graduated at the commencement in
the early summer. He was singularly
free from every vice, and was scrupu-
lous attendant upon the services of the
church-the Presbyterian-in which he
was reared. And, best of all, he illus
trated the genuineness of his Christian
principles by the integrity and purity
of his life, and by the gentleness, sweets
ness. and modesty of his manners in his
daily intercourse with others. It is 80
rare to see young men with lives SO
stainless and with manners so lovable
that it was impossible not to admire,
and almost wonder, st the perfection Of
his character.
Within five or six weeks he had COM
planned of being unwell. His physician
prescribed for malaria poison. and en-
Joined on him to avoid the hot sun and
the night air. He acted on this advice,
and seemed careful of his health, but
lost only one or two days from his off
cial duties. Some of the boarders now
think that they have for some time no.
ticed eccentricities in his conduct, but 1
have heard OF. no word spoken by him
that indicated alteration Of mind-not
even to the last moment. Thursday last
he went to the Capitol and performed
his daily round of duties, consisting in
making record or entry of the dOcu.
ments sent of, and to whom they are
sent. My attention was called to-day
to the last entry made by him, which,
contrary to his custom, as the book
shows, he underscored, as If to mark
the end Of his life's work. He then
walked away from the Capitol in COM
pany with q friend who is employed in
the same office. They went up Penn.
sylvania avenue as far as Tenth street,
where they separated, Mr.. Gregory say
ing, "Good-bye-it may be forever" !"
His friend said, mo, not forever, but
till tomorrow morning." to which Mr..
Gregory answered, "Well, may be, till
to morrow morning. them" He then
turned into Tenth street, and entered
the Office of the Washington Post, and
having paid his subscription to that pa
per, it is ascertained that he next STEP
ped into q store, under the same roof,
where firearms are sold, and bought a
pistol with cartridges, paying $3.50 for
1t. It was the first shown him, and he
declined to look at another, saying the
one first offered would answer his pur
pose. This was about 4 o'clock, or a
little later. The boarding-house Is at
the corner of G and Third streets, half .
mile distant, where he appeared pune
tually to dinner, at 5 O'Clock, and after
the dinner bell rang he stepped up to
the landlady with smile and paid her
the months board. He then seated
himself at the table and ate dinner as
usual, though without speaking, except
when spoken to. A lady opposite to him
inquired after his health. remarking, II
suppose you don't feel as strong as Sam
son yet ?'' He replied, mo, could not
last words. sat on his left, and asked
him to help me to the butter. which he
did. but without speaking. He was first
to leave the table, and went directly to
his room, In the fourth story Of the
house. In very few minutes, and
while other b0arders were still at din
ner, q pistol shot was heard. and half q
minute thereafter another. He had
locked himself in his room, and after
writing two notes, in one Of which he
left statement of his amount of money
on hand and in bank, and in the Other
Forget and forgive this deed" He
took off his coat and vest, seated himself
| on the edge of his bed, or standing with
his back to it, so as to fall upon it, he
shot himself twice through the breast
Both balls passed through his body
the first striking the wall beyond the
bed and rebounding; the second, which
seems to have been fired after he fell
was found in his shirt at his back
There is evidence that the second bal
that took effect was really the third at.
tempt to fire the pistol, as the interven
ling chamber showed that q cap haC
exploded without effect. The gentlemen
who broke open the door, within two
minutes after the firing, found him or
mis- back upon the bed, with bis feet OF
the floor, and already dead. The wac
had set fire to his shirt, which wa'
burning.
Such was the tragic ending of thil
Young life. He was the last man in th,
world that his scquaintances woult
have thought capable of committing su
icide. Indeed, such was the mastery
that he held over his passions that t.
the last moment he preserved his equa
nimity, and forgot not to be Christian
gentleman. 1t has been said that h.
was laboring under temporary insanity
but that must be strange sort ofinsan
ity which never betrayed it's victim init
an incoherent or irrational remark, no
caused him to forget the punctiliou
propriety of behavior which was tn
| characteristic of his life. leave 1t t,
the metsphysicians or the psychologist
to reconcile these strange incongruities
It Is the height OF folly to wait unit
Won are in bed with disease you ma,
not get over for months. when you ca
be cured during the early symptoms b.
Parker's Ginger Tonic. Wehave know