Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-06-18

A Real Tragedy IN an operate Com.
pany---His Fearful Struggles for
Life.

A dispatch from Central City, Col, to
the Denver tribune describes the suicide
of Mr.. Olive Hersee. member of the
Soldene Comic Opera Company, in whose
representations he assumed the principal
humorous roles. The account says:
The train from Georgetown with the
troupe arrived at the forks at a. M There
is a wait there for an hour and half for
the up train to Central Mr.. Hersee re-
manned most of the time in the eating
house talking to Mr. Hussey the proprietor
During the time he drank some beer and
ate very light lunch. He appeared IN
more than usual good spirits, cracking an
occasional joke and lughing like man
with no care on his mind His wife was
walking around and nothing unusual ap-
peared in her actions. A: half asst 10
O'clock, just after the Georgetown up train
had arrived and had stopped upon the
bridge. and about five minutes before the
Central train reached this point Mr.. Herr
see walked on the bridge and &C osted
Miss Somerville, one of the ladies of the
company, who was standing looking over
the railing, and in familiar way bid her
good bye. She smiled and said "Good>
oye," and turned to walk toward the
station, about fifty yards distant. Hersee
climb over the railing, stood for an in-
slant on the outside edge ofthe bridge and
inside the fatal leap. He had on his over
coat at the time: This bridge is about fl :
teen or twenty feet above the creek, which
is much swollen, full of water, and the
current very powerful Owing to South
Clea Creeks meeting and min Cling at this
point, the water here has force enough to
urn every wheel in Clear Creek ami Gill;
pin C ,ubties. Parties on the Georg etown
train who saw the desperate deed gave the
alarm once, and immediately the whole
place VAS IN an uproa
The moment Hersee struck the water he
negan to struggle franticaliy. The force
of the current uegan to Garry him down
tream When about two hundred yards
down from the bridge he managed to
divest himself of his htavy outer garments
ana again began his eferts to reach the
bank. Most of the people at he depot
| tulloWe him down the river, watching MS
| endeavors and expecting him every mo-
nent to gain firm footing. Occasionally
he would di appear. but again come to the
surface merely to renew his struggles. lie
<ept fairly in the middle Of the stream,
Violently following the course of the cur
rent. Some of the members of the COM
pary wished to rust into the water to his
rescue, but were detained by fear of a sim
iliar death.
When about half mile down the creek
MS efforts relaxed. Plainly it appeared as
if his strength were giving out, aud Occa,
sionally he would raise himself out of the
water. and franticaliy throwing his hands
.bout would sink again. ii atures,
which Wee plNinly visible to those on the
bank, were as fixed as marb e, but showed
| frIghLful 'agonv. When about a mile f ON
| he bridge, and while gong over small
jAS no had W ii hoe
! oeen seen since.
The scene at the depot when those who
| followed the struggling msn down had re-
urned and reporsed his fate b ggafs de.
eruption. His wife became perfectly fran
| ic aud W IS with ficulty placed on the VI
rain for Central. The ladies were all il
ears, and even the men could not restrain
heir deep emotions. He nev'r altered {
word from the time be took the last lear
| unui his body disappeared one mile below
de was powerfully built you & man, o
about thirty years of age, and h I'd til.
| r-putatlo" OF being Il good swimmer. The
suicide was the son Of we'll known auth
ADD manager of London. Eugl4nd ant
was the brother of Miss Rose Hersee. al
actress well known in Eastern CITIES. II
anne 70 America last October from Londol
when he and his wife joined the company
CLey have one son IN England. 1t Is n
sec ct with the members of the compan,
that his domestic relations were unhappy
The reported quarrels between himself an
els wiie-Miss Matte Duggan on the stag
were the subject of comm On conversation
they had not been living together TO
some weeks. and she had few days ag
expressed her determination not to liv
| with him again. He was not what woult
| De called disspated man, although b
drank occasionally, but Was man of
y sour. morose ADD Jealous disposition. Tn
theory afnnng the company is tina; he dix
DOT premedltats suicide, but imagined tina
ne might work upon the feeling Of his wifi
| bv pretended attempt at deaLh and, no
being aware ofthe t. eacherous character o
the creek at this point. rushed in with th.
| belief that he would get o or be rescued
| His Immediate eff ,rts after he struck thu
water and his continued efforts atterwarc
bear out this theory.