The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-01
UNIT N. RAsIN DEAD.
The Well known Attorney
Passed Away Yesterday.
HIS VERY EvENTFuL CAREER.
Enaswed with . Splendid anteIiees and
MANY Gracss Of eha~aeser. lie Was
HIs Own woxst Knemy.

Providence hospstal OF dropsy. His last
Illness was OF only 5 few days duration,
bat be had beer an inmate OF the hospital
most al the time since last March. At
that time he vas taken sick when about 70
start On an Alaskan cruise for his health
Several months ago be recovered and was
doing well and eTen attended 20 bis bEsi-
ness Last saturday night he became
very sick and WAS taken 70 Providenfe
hospital unconscious. He remained IN
this condition until the hour OF his death.
Yesterday morning al $50.
Unit NJ Rassn was for many years
promin&Ft character In Seattle though
only As years OF age at the time of bis DEATH
He was for a time acting mayor Of the city
and for tiso terms held seat IN the city
council His career as an attorney Was
very brilliant and had il not been for the
fact that he was his own worst enemy he
might have attained any position 10 which
he aSpired.
Mr. RasIn belonged 10 one of the oldest
ard most prominent ST. Louis families.
From thu time be left home. twenty years
ago. 70 tie day OF his death. bis career was
a most Interesting one. In 1s72 he left
San Francisco for the south Sea islands in
q boat chartered By him ard others, for
cargo Of eocoAnnt oil. On the way back
the vess,A encountered q severe storm and
was wrecked, the ship going 70 pieces aud
the cargo proving a total loss. Mr.. Rasia
was one OF few whs survived the terrible
calamity. and, floating on the wreckage
several days. be was picked mp by Sail
ing vessel and brought 10 Puget sound.
The only things he saved from the wreck
we're his clothes and . copy OF Shakes
peare's works, which he always cherished
Arriving on Puget sound among
strangers and without money, he turned
his hand to the first thing he could find,
which happened to BE a Job at carpenter
Ing in the Newcastle coal mine. 1t was at
this place in 1876 that Judge Thomas
Burke and Mr. NJ. 5. Booth became &C
quaiused with him. and il was At their in
stance that he threw aside bis Iaborer's
apron and came to Seattle 10 study law.
Here hs supported himself by clerical work
In County Auditor Booths Office at first.
His superior intellect E. once brought him
forward. and in 1873 be was admitted to
the bar. lie entered into partnership with
Judge Burke under the firm name of Burke
& Rasin. which firm existed until 1886.
when By the admission of q. Morris Haller
the firra became Burke, Halter 4 Rasin.
A few months after this Mr. Rasin S health
gave way and he took 8 trip TO
Alaska. Since that time he has
gradually but surely been losing both
his mind ard his physical health. being
carried on By an inherited appetite for
drink which eIlsa&ged his brilliant capaoi-
ties. lie was a man OF rare natural gifts and
end ow mef.ts, which we're improved BY
IL Is4FIs pta ea7A
day Of Mr.. Ralsin: He was without ex-
cepsion or qualification the brightest wit
that have ever known. He was a born
gentleman. He bad the happy faculty OF
always knowing what to do and o. Doing
Just the right thing ia any emergency. He
was qualified By nature and education 10
adorn any society. For more Ia an ten
years be was the soul and life OF every COM
pany ne was in. he was man Of genial
and k4ndly disposition and bis rare wit was
never employed TO wound or injure any
one. lie probably had but one enemy in
the world and that was himself
Attorney John Arthur. secretary of the
Seattle Bar Association. said last night Of
Mr.. Raisin, "i have known him for seven
years and he always Was a most upright.
generous and honorable memher.of the pro-
private habits, over which the mantle of
charity should now be drawn. lie was q
credit and an honor 20 the bar. was re-
markedly weil-reaa man and could draw
ct will from sstsi0rshoase Of knowledge
in every department OF human effort the
most appropriate illustrations, examples
and illusions. lie was = man of poetic
temperament and would have made his
mars. ia literature If he had followed it i'm
stead Of the law tie was always frank
and honest with the court as well as with
the attorneys 20 whom he was opposed.
His word in any matter OF professional
homer Was ~ good as his bond. lie
formed long friendships and ever in
the latter days al his intellectual decline.
when BE bad actually retired from active
practice. be enjoyed tie strongest attach
meut Of An his old low-prsctiticneTs.
ard his appearance among them was
greeted always with genuine warmth lie
was. all in all. man of nnest mould. who
should have made lasting impression on
a growing community like this with which
he was closely identified Ills death viii
be sincerely mourned BY his many sc.
q0aintEnceS
The funeral will occur on Thursday
morning IS II O'Clock from Bonuey &
Stewards. and the services viii he under
the charge Of the har association. which
viii attend In body. A brother in Sp,,-
Kane Falls has been notified by wire and
MI. probably he ia attendance at the last
SAD sites