Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-17
SUICIDE BY FASTING.
a WOman's Deep Grief for the Death
of Her Fayorite Daughter
PROMPTS TO SELF-STARvATION.
Every Effort to Coax or Force Her to Take
NOuriShment Fails.
TIE END COMES ON THE FIFTIETH DAY

PoTTsvILLE, June l6. - Particulars of q
strange, desperate and successful suicide by
starvation come from Weishample, this
county, the suicide being Mrs. Harriet
Smith, who starved herself to death on
account of the decease of her daughter,
Mrs Daniel MoSor, of Tower City. Many
miles away from the telegraph wires, and
beyond the reach of railroads, a remarkable
r scene was enacted, the neighbors witnessing
a woman slowly taking her life. Week after
week they visited her chamber only to find
that each day brought her nearer deaths
door,
Mrs. Smith was the wife of John Smith, a
man who for upward of Is years had the
reputation of being the wealthiest and most
prominent farmer in the valley. Fifty-eight
days ago Mrs. Mosor, the eldest daughter of
the smiths, took sick. She was her mothers
favorite, and her illness gave the family
much alarm. After four days of suffering
she died, ard since then not a crumb has
passed Mrs. Smiths lips.
She Announces Her Determination.
At first the latter's grief did not assume a
violent form. She seemed to be very calm,
and with the rest of the relations she at
tended the funeral. As the coffin was being
lowered into the grave, Mrs. Smith startled
the people around her by stating that she
would never eat another mouthful of food
on this earth. 1t was supposed that the
woman had uttered the words under the i'm
mediate stress of grief and no one believed
that she would keep her word.
After returnin" home Mrs Smith assisted
the domestics in preparing dinner, and when
all the dishes had been placed on the table
she walked into the sitting room. The re-
1nainder of the family partook of the meal
while Mrs Smith sat near the window sob
bing. Every possible effort was made to in
duce her to eat, but to no avail She was de-
tcrmined and it was decided to leave her
alone with the hope that she would soon see
her folly. Supper came with the wOmans
mind unchanged.
From that time to the 50th dav she went
to her room whenever the meals were pre-
pared Gradually her strength failed her
and she became mere shadow of her former
self Food was carried to her bed, but she
refused to touch it, Different schemes ar
ranged by the family and physicians, who
were called in attendance, to have her eat
failed, and finally she refused TO drink any
water. In the morning she would come down
stairs and help prepare breakfast, but the
fumes of the steaks and vegetables had no
effect upon her.
Refused Food to the Very End.
On the 50th day while walking through the
hall, she fell fainting upon the floor and was
removed to a couch in the front room. She
was entirely exhausted, and while lying on
her back more than 20 physicians from the
surrounding country hOcked to the Smith
house, and after learning the truth pro-
nOunced it Il marvellous case. While uncon- |
sciOUS Mrs. Smiths mouth was forced open |
with the hope of forcing down some nourish- |
1nent As it was trickling along her tongue 1
she recovered and spat it out. Her husband, |
who sat by her side waiting with Others for |
her death, asked her for his sake to take |
little DrotE.
ITS no use, JOHN cried the prostrated |
woman: Il Will refresh myself by looking st
my child's face in heaven"
During her long fast many attempts
were made to give the woman nourishment,
but in such instances she came out victori-
Gus, managing in each instance to keep any,
thing from reaching her stomach. Finally !
the end came, but not before the CHASTITY /
looking sufferer brushed off several drops of |
water placed on her parched lips. She was
laid to rest in the little country church yard,
which stands within a stones throw from
the house where she had lived for nearly 80
Years