Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-05
POOR HATTIE DOKAHUE.
SOME UNKNOWN SORROW DRIVES HER
TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
Beautiful, and Loved by all Who Knew
Her, She Seeks Death in the
Rushing River.

Pretty Hattie B. Donahue's body lay in
a coffin al Reeves & Longs undertaking
lest night, and was visited
by scores Of people who had heard of her
sad and tragic death in the early evening
She had been an operator in the Western
Union Telegraph Office in this city, and
suicide a few minutes before
o'clock in the evening by jumping from
the Yolo bridge into the swollen waters of
the Sacramento river. She was employed
Oh the day force, and usually left the office
at O'Clock P. NJ.
Yesterday she was still at her post half
an hour after her usual time for ceasing
work, and John Allen, the Night Superin-
tendent- asked her if she did not want
10 be relieved. He then noticed that she
was not receiving messages, bat was writ
ing, and spoke to her jokingly about it..
She smiled and replied that it was simply a
note TO a married lady, and few moments
afterwaTd left the operating room. On
the business Office down stairs
she asked the clerk if he could spare her
ODC OA-l--C AOsS HI INlfC WUllc, anu ne
said be could. Accordingly she left, &C.
companied by a messenger. She asked
the boy 10 show her the way to
THE YoLo BRIDGE.
And he accompanied her there. On reach
ing the bridge she gave him two letters to
post for her, and note for Mrs. Elijah
Swift, who resides at 2l0 NJ street. She
also gave him two dollars for his trouble
The boy left her on the bridge and re-
as directed. The bridge-tender
noticed Miss Donahue walking up and
down on the bridge for some minutes after
the boy left her, but thought nothing of it,
that she was waiting for some
body. What awful thoughts were engross-
ing the mind of the young woman during
those moments can only be coniectured,
for she was then contemplating the terri
BILE act Of sslf-destruction. Presently Mr..
rodhunter and one or two other men on
the Yolo side of the river heard
AN oMINoUs SPLASH
In the river, followed by heart-piercing
shrek of despair, and rushing to the edge
of the bank saw dark object floating off
on the rushing current. They made rush
for Todhunter's boat near by, but it was
locked and could not be got loose. After
sOul6 Qt4EI duOLuCI ODdL was lOuuu duu
the men put off in it, but they were too
late-the body had gone out of sight, and
poor Hattie Donahue had found watery
grave.
The alarm was given and men set to
work to recover the body, but i; was per-
haps two hours before success crowned
their efforts. The body was finally recov-
cred with grapphng-irons within a few
yards Of where the unfortunate girl was
last seen. Il was taken to the rooms of
Reeves 4 Long, who have charge of Yolo
county cases occurring in this neighbor-
hood.
In the meantime Mrs. Swift had received
the note brought her by the messenger boy,
and fearing that something was wrong,
FASTENED 10 the telegraph Office and in
formed Superintendent Semp and others
Of her fears. The note received by Mrs.
Swift read as follows:
Dear Mrs. SlrJt: You know my life has not
been an enviable one for some months past. l
think have chosen the easiest way to end my
troubles. Many thanks to you for past kind
1esses. You have been good friend to me.
with love. HATTIE B.
The messenger boy was questioned in
regard to where he had gone with Miss
Donahue, and further inquiry developed
the fact that she had leaped from the
bridge into the river, as stated.
sHRoUDED IN MYSTERY.
The first person called upon by RECORD
UNION reporter, in his search for informa-
ion that might throw some light on the
mystery which surrounded the affair, was
Semp. He said that Miss
Donahue had been an operator in the Office
Tor about year, prior to which time she
had been in the company's employ at San
Francisco, Virginia City and Reno, New.
She was one of the best operators they had,
and young lady of q remarkably quiet
She was always at her duty,
did not keep company with any gentle
man, so far as he knew, and was on the
best of terms with her relatives at the Bay
She had been at her desk all day, and he
had not the remotest idea as to what could
have impelled her to commit the terrible
act of self-destruction. She had seemed to
be in good spirits all day, and he had not
noticed anything unusual in her manner.
The reporter next called upon Mrs. Swift,
at 210 NJ street, where Miss Donahue had
roomed for some eight months. Mrs. Swift
was so overcome by the shock of the ter
rible affair that she declined to talk much
about it. She allowed the reporter to read
the note she had received from Miss Dona-
hue by the boy, the contents of which are
given above.
In reply TO questions. Mrs. Swift said she
had no knowledge of Miss Donahue hav-
ing any trouble. For few days past she
had noticed that her manner was little
Quieter thsn usual, and that at times she
seemed quite melancholy, but that was all.
Miss Donahue did not keep company with
gentlemen, but was always at home as
soon as her days duties were over. She
received the most atfectionate
letters from her married sister, and there
could not possibly be any family trouble.
''She was one of the sweetest and most
lovable girls ever met" said Mrs. Swift,
land oh, isn't this awful
1t was, however, learned from another
person later in the evening that Mrs. Swift
had mentioned the fact that Miss Donahue
had recently received and destroyed quite
a number of letters.
PROBABLY DISAPPOINTMENT IN LOVE.
The reporter next called upon and inter-
viewed several gentlemen employed at the
Western Union Office. Without an ex-
ception they spoke in the very highest
terms of the girls noble character.
why, said one of the operators, "every
one of US in the Office would do as much
for Hattie as for our own sisters, and there's
not a person about here who had not the
highest possible regard for her.
Mr.. Allen said that Miss Donahues mind
had evidently been engrossed on yesterday
with matters other than her work; that at
times she seemed absent minded, and once
an operator ST Virginia City, on receiving a
message from her, inquired what was the
matter-that she seemed to be less clear
headed than usual For ali that she was
agreeable to all who addressed her, and to
himself said 3 pleasant goodnight on leav-
ing the Office
At the restaurant near by, where Miss
Donahua had been in the habit of taking
her dinner, the reporter heard from the
walters the same pleasing remarks about
her sweet manners and charming DISPOSE
ton. From one of the walters it was
learned that about three weeks ago very
sentlemanly man, stranger in the city,
accompanied Miss Donahue TO one of her
meals. the first time she had been seen
there in the company of any gentleman.
From another source it was learned that
this gentlemen went East, and that on yes
terdav Miss Donahue received a letter
which seemed to disturb her very much,
and which size at once destroyed.
SAD CASE.
This is one of the saddest tragedies that
has occurred in this city in. many year
The unfortunate young lady was only
about twenty-five years OF age, and was
said to be enc of the prettiest and most