Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-06
SUICIDES METHODS.
How Those Tired of This Life Escape
From Trouble and Pain.
THE WEAPONS EMPLOYED.
some Seek Secluded Places I'm which to
shuttle on This Mortal Coil, While Others
Court Publicity and Notoriety-Pistol, Poi
son, Hanging and Drowning All Effective.

1T SEEMS to be an easy matter to accom-
Il plish self destruction when ones mind is
made up to commit suicide. There have been
many persons, however. who have found it
rather difficult task. Many modes have been
adopted. a STAR reporter learns, by those
who have become tired Of the vicissitudes of
this life 10 reach the life beyond. and while
many and probably large majority of them
have proved successful, some Of them have
been failures. As easy a matter as it is
for a person to sever artery or vein
and die an easy death and without attract
ing general attention. many of these erratic
or insane persons prefer to make noise, using
revolver or go to public place where they
will gain some notoriety and be put on exhi-
bition after life is extinct.
ARE SUICIDES INSANE?
There Is a wide difference of opinion as to
whether persons who commit suicide are in
sane OF not The large majority, no doubt
believe that the suicide mind is affected in some
manner, whether the victim Is actually crazy or
not.
Some religions beliefs teach that cvery per-
son who takes his OF her own life is of that
frame OF mind that renders the unfortunate
creature wholly irresponsible so far the
next world is concerned. and that his chances
least disturbed: while on the other
hand there are those who believe
. that a suicide cHunOt enter the kingdom of
heaven. History shows that persons who COM
init suicide belong 10 every race, although
there are many more OF certain nationalities
who ttke their own lives than there are of
others The negro seldom figures in such
cases. and that II II thought. IL because most
of tlse black race are ALWAYS OF happy frame
o. min. and .re not So easily disturbed abou.
their future in this life as others There are
certain glasses Of persons who reach tne shores
of america from other countries where the
climate is much colder than here who have
gained fey themselves the pUtatiOn of being
too ready uEon slight pTQvOcItion to send a
bullet through their own brain or 10 swallow a
dose that viii send them to the other shore.
MODES AND PLACES OF SUICIDES.
The modes adopted for this purpose are num-
bCries5 ami some of them arc az ingenious as
Others are ri..i-a.ous. The rIaccs selected are
al" n.m~-ou@ an! probably depend upon
wESttvr ;hc victim does the ac5 upon the spur
OF IL, moment OF after long cogi.ation. Great
PROPORTIONS are I..atle by sorae persons who
con.rIiI lIt,. taki x th., stS;' weeks before the
1iI. act :; committed While Others act and fall
Upea :: moments thought.
in New iOrk Central Park appears to Re
fGy9~ito place. while il tn; city many victims
have selected grassy spots ab t the suburban
hills S-i.: several have die aim IL the shadow
cf the Washington mOay;Ia~ 1t. The lake
III Soldiers Home grounds has been place
where number o. old soldiers. weary qua tired
OF life. after having gone through the war,
haze rEsGe thci- last leap in life.
Ant. 80 Il Is III almost every city. There il
some locality which these people have appar-
emily found pleasure in selecting as their death
placc. There are those also who prefer to die
IN bed. some at home and some in q strange
eity ia hotel. The clerk i'll many large hotels
can rO:I'e strange stories about guests who have
committed suicide. Some of them have cor
on prctracie'l sprecS and who. ii not closely
watched. would end their existence by turning
on and inhaling the illuminating gas.
STRONG DRINK FRUITFUL CAUSE.
Foremost in the modes of suicide the tenn
pe.ance people say is the use Of strong drink.
fo- they believe and teach that a man whe
drinks. and especially those who drink to ex-
cess. Goes rOthing short OF taking his own life
because. they argue. that Is a killer every
time. no matter whether it takes days. weeks
months or TEARS The pistol is often reso-ted
to. and usually with success. though in some
instances only dangerous o. slight wounds are
inflicted. People who resort TO the use
Of the pistol invariably make an at
tempt to blow ont their brains. II the
aim IL such that the bullet is sent
directly into the skull the shot is almost
sure to prove effective. whils on the other hand
If the victim is nervous and the aim is not di-
rect. the leaGen messenger il apt to nliscarry
and lodges either under the scalp or goes
srcy1nd the SKULL to the feshy portion of the
neck. The weapon IL often pointed toward the
mouth a. an idea prevails that hot Lead is
sure death when swallowed.
INHALING ILLUMINATING GAS
The process Of persons who contemplate
suicide by inhalinS illuminating gas is differ
ert IL generally consists in shutting doors
and windows and stopping keyholes and cracks
with OIL rags. newspapers or clothing. and in
almost every Gaze the would-be suicide closes
the hiadS and pulls down the curtains. as
though to hide himself from the outside world
more speedy and direct means of using
gas has been put IN operation more than once.
The victiIn first procures long rubber tube
anc attaches II to the gas Jet, and after all
other necessary preparations are made the
tube is run across TO a bed or down to the floor,
where the victim hes. and piece of cloth or
waste rag Is covered over the mouth around
where the tube is inserted. BY turning on the
fow Of gas death will generally result in a short
time. much quicker than by turning it on and
allowing II TO NIL the entire room and escape
through creyices about the windows aad doors.
The man who seeks death on n railroad track
or by powder explosion. as some do. cares
but little how he LOOKS after death and pays
but httle regard 10 the likes and dislikes of
those whom he leaves behind.
HANGING GENERALLY srRE.
Death by hanging il often resorted to by per-
soEs with suicidal tendencies and il is one Of
the most effective modes. Hay lofts stables or
wood sheds seem to be the favorite places for
tins class Of suicides. and but few persons max
Ing the attempt in that way have been rescued.
When the rope is long enough to give
the victim a sufficient fall he il either
rendered unconscious or placed in such
aPOsition that even should the unfortunate
one change his mind he could not help him
sell Poisons of various kinds are used by sui
cides. some preferring dose Of lGGdanum to
deaden their feelings while others use stronger
poisons that take but a few minutes to do their
work. In some cases where pOisons are used
secluded spots are selected, while in others the
victim makes the purchase CT the deadly drug
anu swallows il. that he i'll fall the street
and die before he reaches home. Others put
the poison in glass of beer or whisky and
take the dose IN that way. so that they will not
De subjected to such an unpleasant taste.
III drowning is the mode TO be adopted the
victim either goes to the water from some high
bridge IN the day time where he can make an
exhibition Of himself or waits until nightfall
when the fatal splash at the midnight hour in
lonely spot Is not likely to attract any one and
ne can die and probably be swept away by the
nde without his body being recovered and with
ont his friends and relatives knowing of his
whereabouts
SINGULAR CASE.
singular case happened in q neighboring
eity oniya few months ago. man who was
nred OF living took his life by means Of inhal-
ing deadly drug that sent him to his last