The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-06-01
A s1NcuLARIY FATAL ACCIDENT.
A Young Man Jumps From Third Story
Misunderstanding in Death.

A Young Man Jumps From Third Story
Notwithstanding in Death.
A very singular accident happened last
Wednesday evening. Mr. Thomas Alexan-
der, youngest son of j. c.. Alexander of this
county, came into the Occidental hotel be.
tween eleven and twelve o'clock and engag-
ed bed. The party who put him to bed,
thought it was about quarter to IL o'clock.
He noticed he had been drinking a little,
but thought nothing of it, because he went
off to bed without any difficulty, occupying
a room in the third story of the hotel in the
southwest corner of the building. At about
half past twelve Marshal Hogan, who serves
as night watch for the bank, was just op-
posite of the hotel and Immediately across
the street, heard the window of the room
occupied by the unfortunate man raise and
Immediately following he heard a dull
heavy thud of sound as if something fell
on the sidewalk. The Marshall immediate
ly proceeded to the opposite side of the
str eet under the window where MIR. Alexan-
der had been sleeping where his boby was
found lying and him in an insensible condit
ion. Various theroies are advanced as TO
the motives which led to the accident. Some
are inclined to advance the idea that after
going to bed he became sick at the stomach
and raised the window to vomit and had
lost his balance and fell out of the window.
This theory appears very reasonable except
that there was no signs of any vomiting
L. IL l. lla4 of4
going to bed he had began dreaming some
trightful dreams and had jumped out of bed
and rushed to the window and raised it
while yet asleep and jumped out before he
knew what he was doing. The latter theory
looks quite reasonable when we are informed
that his brother says that he has long been
in the habit of getting up nights and walk
ing in his sleep. But still no one will ever
know what led to the fatal fall. Many ru-
mors are on the street as to the deceased
having been in the continual habit of dissi-
pating for some time past, but in conversa-
ton with j. w. Rayburn, with whom de-
ceased had slept every night for the last ten
or twelve nights, until the night of the &C.
u.
Mr. Rayburn says that during all that time
deceased has been going to bed early in the
evening and was not under the influence of
drink. Mr.. Rayburn also states that de-
ceased had for some time passed been set
tling up his business here with the view of
going to Washington Territory to remain
permanently and that he had got all, mat
ters arranged and intended to start yester-
day morning to near Waitsburg, w. Z.
We believe deceased was born in this county
almost adjoining Corvallis, and was about
20 years of age, was educated here and
graduate of Corvallis Agricultural College.
He had a good education was good his
torian and well read generally. He read
law in this town and was admitted as an
attorney at the December term of the Su-
premie Court of this state in 1877. He had
practiced his profession but very little. He
had very kind, generous and pleasant dis
position, being one of those kind of persons
at whom no one could hardly become Of
Tended. He was man well informed and
had plenty of good sense; but lie did not
seem to have particle of that will power
which drives so many men along vigorously
through life His sudden departure will be
sadly regretted by all who knew him. He
was an Odd Fellow and we learn that the
funeral will take place under their super
vision. 49,.