Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-09

was maniiestlS Lervous and fatieued
Who knew but he would himself be
broken, But With the sixth blow the
stone cracked and fell Into two parts.
How was that for q divsstsng sight IN
a civilized city9 m
Fatal Pooling.
The suicide Of Heinrich Kirchner.
at Tacoma, on the .l4th of May last,
was but the prelude to a very sad
story, almost unequaled in point of
romance. and we'll illustrating the
depths of human love. Kirchner was
supposed to have killed himself bes
cause his sweetheart in the East had
Tilted him, but short time after his
death his friends received the intern.
alton that this same girl was even
then on her way to Join her lover. On
Fthe last trip oil the Oregon to this city
the unfortunate girl was a passenger.
Her name is Hedwig Spinhorn. She
is good looking German girl, about
22years Of age, with fair complexion
and blue eyes, and appears quite intel.
ligent and we'll educated. Last Tues
day morning she left Portland for Ia
coma, ignorant of the news which
there awaited her. The Tacoma Led
ger tells the story of her arrival in
that city and subsequent events as
follows: h teM
AS the long train slowed up at the
depot and the thrOng of passengers
we're scattering, young woman was
observed to get off with an emigrant
family. Mr.. Zinrom approached and
asked her if her name was not Hedwig
Spinhorn. She did not at first reply,
but when Mr.. Zinrom drew two pho
tographs from his pocket, one Of
Kirchner and the other of herself,
she quickly recognized Mr.. Kirchner's
likeness and inquired for him. They
told her a story of his being called
away suddenly and unavoidably to the
woods, and that he could not return
for day or two; that they had been
asked by him, in case he should not
return by the time she arrived, to take
her home with them to await bis
coming. Mistrusting nothing, she
was conveyed with them in q hack to
Mr.. Zinrem's residence. In the
carriage her new found trends exerted
themselves to appear cheerful. Hay.
ing a desire, however, to know
whether she could have entertained
sentiments other than the warmest for
the unfortunate deceased, they ques-
toned her about the letter which had
been received and which was supposed
to have caused the commitment Of the
deed. She smiled innocently and said
she could not for moment entertain
such a thought. Then in quite an
entertaining manner she recounted
that on leaving her brothers house
on May Land in the hurry consequent,
she had not had time to write to her
afianced, and had asked her brother
to do SO, and to say that she was on
her way. The truth then dawned
upon Mr.. Zin;om aud friends. In a
moment Of thougtless nleasantry the
brother had written to Kirchner a
letter Of double meaning, not announc
ling that she was coming, but pro.
pounding the question: What if she
has concluded not to come, and to re-.
nounce those feelings once SO sincere
ly entertained?" The letter, it is
said, was capable of being translated
as bit of a banter to most men, but
Kirchner, Jealous Of his love and alone
10 his cabin, brooded over the posi-
bility ola disappointment until it was
magnifed into a terrible reality, and
being too heavy to bear, he arose 10
the night, aud with a death. dealing
shotgun ended his life. And this is
the story; the sequence, and the girl
is three thousand miles from home
among strangers. tiA q
About noon Wednesday Mrs. Rob
ert Locke undertook the difficult
task OF informing Miss Spinhorn o.
| Kichner's death. After some prelim
inaries, the lady, as gently as possible
told the girl, carefully emitting the
TACT that it was by suicide, and con
STRUNG it accidental. Miss Spinhorr
was unOonsolable for some hours
thereafter. despite all that could b.
said to soothe her feelings. However
after time she became more calm anC
rational, and was even constrained
to reason. 1t is thought by hel
friends, therefore, that she will in I
short time measurably get over thu
sorrow at present unavoidable. Hei
sister and brother-in law are en- reutI
to this city via Panama, and when they
arrive she will have a home, aud vii
at least be among friends. They ar,
expected to arrive here in about three
weeks. Meanwhile her friends vii
make her entirely comfortable, and NJ
serious fears Of her welfare need b,
entertained.
EditoFially, the LadgeF comment
upon the above as followsi 9TH,
cause of the whole misfortune is sim
ply to be traced to jest made in th
worst possible taste. The foolisl
. young man thought, no doubt, that b
was doing a very smart thing il
making Heinrich Kirchner, in hi
, lone cabin here, believe that his Low
had left him for another, and tb
| result was the finding of a mangle,
! body by the early yisitoru TO Kireh
neFls house on the morning following
THE arrival OF the letter and the dis
appointment of the intended bride OIL
her arrival here"