San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-15
A STUDY OF SUICIDE
WHAT LIFE REScUER o'eR4eN SAYS
on THE SUBJECT

Observations Of Chicago Man Who Has
Saved Thirty Human Lives-People Who
Want to Drown Observation-Disclosures
Of the Genuine Self Killer.
When am free and at leisure 60 to
Lincoln park The lake shore there Is
my field Of operation Most Of the
drownings take place in the lake of Lin
coin park. Dozens Of young people are
out boating there every day, and once in
awhile life hater turns up, determined
to bury himself in the waves. For ono
who is really tired Of life it is indeed
good place. The water is clear. cool and
inviting The confusing roar and noise
of this busy city life is far off. Peace,
tranquility and rest reign all around. The
place is Just made for life haters who,
you know, are often capable of walking
miles In order to terminate their life in
shady and green spot. Along that very
shore rescued about dozen people. and
at least FIVE of them were would be self
murdereCs.
During the many years I devoted to
this peculiar occupation of mine-that is,
to saving the drowning-I observed that
not only place and time but also the
weather has a great deal to do with the
occurrence of drownings. Those who
drown themselves in. the spring and
autumn usually have a weakness for far
weather. They are Missionaries suffering
from Unborn melancholy, and often poets
with ruined, dissipated talents. The
great majority. however, are poor crea-
lures for whom sunshine is rather in
vigoratmg than productive of desire to
die. They think of dying for long time,
but they do it as soon as the weather
changes for the worse. If the weather is
too bad. If it rains or SHOWS heavily. they
will wait. They do not like too bad
weather.
The days on which the drownings and,
suppose. suicides in general are most
Numerous. are in most cases those on
wEich the sky is enveloped in gray Clouds
Everything then seems gloomy and mel.
aacnO!y IN inexp!icable heavy pressure
upon the breast makes the blood flow
slowly and lulls the brain into a dull
stuper The thoughts get confused
Deep sadness seiZes the unfortunate SUI
ferers. and whatever unpleasant and Bit
ter their past life contained forces its way
out of the depth of recollection. and
bursts forth in one agonizing feeling of
despair and disgust with the world
Those who try to plunge into the here
after on such days offer grim resistance.
when one comes TO their rescue, and with
out preliminary precautions to rescue
them rs dangerous undertaking
Many of those who resolve to drown
themselves often come to the spot they
select for the accomplishment of their re-
solve. long before taking the final step.
They walk up and down along the shore,
gaze at the sky. look around shyly. then
they begin to stare at the water, en-
deavoring to measure its depth. When
they are about to make the fatal move
nent they halt suddenly and listen. The
chirD of bird, the splash of a fish. the
whistle Of steamer, any sound, any
triiiAg matter unsettleS their resolve
They turn round all of sudden and walk
quickly away. A few days afterward they
come back and seem to reproach them
selves for having been so cowardly before.
Instead of walking up ard down they now
remain standing on one spot. They stare
at the water. In their eyes there is not
spark of thought. They have the ap-
pearance of somnambulists. They can
neither see nor hear anything. Suddenly,
it seems, something startles them. The
hat flies from the head, the coat from the
shoulders, and-there-they are strug
Cling with the waves.
Most Of them appear on the surface
before they finally go down. A genuine
seTfskiller will fold his arms. shut his
eyes and go down without any noise. He
is half dead already before the unavoid-
able apoplexy strikes his brain. Those,
however, who go into death with some
hesitanoy, ut this dreadful moment are
overcome by a powerful fondness of life.
They cry and kick and trample with their
arms and legs. and when one comes to
their rescue they cling to him like polyp-
To die is not so easy thing after all, and
he who attempts to take his own life will
not soon repeat his attempt.
Even the hours of the day are of great
Importance 70 the suicides. Generally
they choose the afternoon hours, when it
begins 10 grow dusky Only q small pro-
portion suicide In the morniRIy,- At aGE-