San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-10
The Daily Eight.
SATURDAY, AUGUST lO,l88s.
HIS LAST TRIP.
Sudden End of Wells Fargo Elk
press Messenger.

Sudden End Of a Wells Fargo Elk
press Messenger.
The fact that life short and very
insecure withal, is continually being
illustrated to the newspaper reporters
more than to any others perhaps.
One day they Will meet good friend,
grasp his hand in friendship and the
next day they will perhaps hear of
that friends sudden death, either
accidental or through illness.
Last Thursday night reporter
of the LIGHT was talking with Mr..
J. Ii. Gorham, well known and
very popular messenger for the Wells,
Fargo Express company, whose run is
between San Antonio and Houston
and return. AS full of mani y vigor
and buoyancy as was his won't, he
laughed and chatted merrily. Yes
terday morning he took his run to
Houston; this morning he is dead.
The news reached San Antonio
early by telegraph, but the particu-
lars of his death are meagre, from the
fact that no one was near by when it
occurred. From facts gained from
Conductor Utley, of train No. 20, and
from other train men, it is learned
that the train left Houston at 4
o'clock this morning. Mr.. Gorham
was i'm his car. When the train
reached Rosenberg the car was not
opened by him as usual, and the
train men, thinking something must
be wrong, forced open the car
doors, which, as is customary, are
locked on the inside. There they
found the dead body of poor Gorham,
lying upon his back, with his head
resting upon a small box, which was
partially filled with the dead mes
senger's lite blood, flowing from a
bullet wound in the left side of his
face, under the eye. In his iron chest,
at his feet, was found his pistol, with
one chamber discharged. The chest
was open and looked as if GOrham
had just began arranging his papers,
way-bills and other work, and had
raised his pistol to remove it and give
place to more envelopes and express
matter that was lying on shelf above
his head. The pistol must have been
discharged accident tally, as the ball
ranged upward through the brain.
His express papers and other
matter in the car were all right,
and the company's safe which was
locke ed, was not opened until San An
tonic was reached at 1925, when it
was opened by the combination and
it's contents, of considerable value,
were found to be ell right. and the
car being found tightly locked, when
at Rosenberg, precludes all posssibil-
ity Of attempted robbery. The posi-
ton of the dead man, when found,
just in the midst of his work, and the
range taken by the bullet, points
clearly to accident. The remains
were taken as far as Richmond and
there left to be prepared for burial, or
to wait orders from the manager Of the
express company. Young Gorham's
effects, in the company's office in this
city were searched for the purpose of
finding if possible, the address of his
relatives. This resulted in the know
ledge that he was formerly resident
of Brooklyn, n. Y, where, on Clinton
street, his mother, sister and two
brothers live. They were Immediately
apprised of the terrible fate of the
son and brother, and their instruc-
tions concerning the disposition of
the remains, and personal effects OF
deceased will be followed.
Mr.. Gorham had been in the en-
ploy of the Wells Fargo express COM
pany for many years, and was thor
ough gentleman, unselfish friend and
genial, merry companion. He num-
bered as his friends every one who
became acquainted with him, and
was universally esteemed.