The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-04-24

Here, Indeed, WIS an idea 10 drive away
onnui aud gloom All Ncquioscod, aud the
proposcr of the scheme, George Loayonworth,
city editor Of The Bridgeport Farmer, drew
paper and pencil from his pocket aud drafted
a constitution aud oath Of initiation. by tho
provisions Of tho former document any ono
weary Of lifo was declared eligible. The club
was TO meet monthly "ur oftoncrn In Kin.
EIas saloon, aud on ench anniversary Of its
birth tho momhcR woro 10 shake "pokor
dicon Tho one making the smallest cast was
bound by the vow 70 which no subscribed 10
kill himself within tho ensuing twolvomonth,
Those who affixed their names 10 tho gruo.
some documents woro Max HoIsterhagon,
William Nickel, John KingIe, Wendell Baum,
Carl Roborts, Max Pfalgonholm and George
Lcayonworth
"Now, gontlcmon,n orlod tho last named,
morrlly "sch0onors around In which 10 drink
short lfo and happy exit 10 tho members OF
tho Bridgeport Suicide club, aud whIlo John
draws the beer III give you verso or two
suitable 10 the cycnt, silence allh
Aud he began that famous song wrltton by
an English officer IN India whom tho cholera
moved down mon moro swiftly than tho
battles bullots
We meet meath the sounding raftoT
And the walls around are baro
Az they echo our poals Of laughter
Il srcrnB that ihs dead are there,
Thou stand by your glasses steady
This world N world Of lies;
Here's o health 10 the dead already
llurrah for tho next that dies,
The group seemed imbued with a certain
historical mrth; n strange recltcsanoss took
possession Of all present
"Bring tho dIcc,n shouted some ono "Wo'll
shake now, we won't wait year, Hurrah
for tho next that dIcs,n
Tho ivory cubcs were produced, Each man
had three throws In which 10 secure az high
a hand as possible. Remarkable 10 stato-l
have the story from an oyowitnogs-al 30.
cured four Of u kind, but llelsterhagen and
Kngc, the lowest two, tied on trays aud had
10 shake second time, Tho latter throw
three fours aud pair Of douces. Tho former
got two sl1cs, two llycs aud four His cast
was lower than any of Che others; ho had
drawn death IN tho lottery Of the dice, and
by the torms of the compact ho was bound to
kill himself within the year
But II was all joke, II ghnstly sort Of
amusement cOncoctod 70 while away the
hours, und In consonnnoo with tho thunder,
tho lightning aud the storm. AS tho com.
panons prepared 10 sock their homes they
chucklod over the Jolly evening they had
spent together, and congratulated Leaven-
worth on his novel scheme for dspelling tho
'bluo deyisn that had envoopcd thom prior
10 his appearance,
"Don't forget to kill yourself, " they cried
after lleisterhagon as he said good night, and
plowod his way down u side thoroughfaro
through the darkness,
That was the last ever seen Of Max Hois
torhogon alive, Hc went TO his saloon on
Gold street, unlocked tho door, llt tho gas
wrote note, took pistol from drawer
back OF the bar and blow out his brains. Tho
note was addressed TO ''my respected friends
aud fellow members Of tho suicide club,n and
tho message was simply this ~ have kept
my oath. warn you 10 keep youra"
They did.
HsIstcrhagon was buried with all tho hon
orr. The braus band oi Mhioh he had bsen .