The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-06
LOVE AND TOBACCO.
Two Causes Combined Drive
Hartley Cook to Suicide.
SHOT HIMSELF DEAD on AwHARF
Returning Dependent From Taeoms.
he snakes Many Pipes. Goes Out
and Eraws His Brains ous.

Hartley r. Cook. printers apprentice
employed in the typographical department
OF the Washington Herkmaa. shot himself
through the hexd with 3s-caliDev reyol-
yer. on McSaughl's wharf. foot Of Stewart
street. early yesterday morning. Dlssp-
pointmenf IN sove and excessive use OF to-
bacco are believed 10 hare been the causes.
Cook came here from Tacoma Two
months ago snd secured work with the
Washiagton Horkmam. fraternal maga-
zine published at lI6 Commercial street
He roomed with Harry Ensign in the
Dosns block on Second street. and teek
his meals IN the same place with the FAM
lily residing there. Generally speaking. he
was . model young man, keeping good
company. not addicted TO drink, and .
member Of the Epxorth N. E. church OF
Tacoma He was not dysreptic, al
though the amount of tobacco he smoked
daily would have paralyz-d many people.
0ace in while he would become 50 nerv-
Gus that il was necessary for him TO get
drugs. His appetite Was good, and not
withstandius some Of the pystanders who
saw him yesterday thought he had not
been well supplied with food, he ate heart
lily from we.i-supplied table up to and
including supper Wednesday evening.
There was one trouble with him, but the
exact cause Of it he Kept well guarded.
Often after o trip to Tacoma he would be-
come gloomy. uncommunicatiye and
eventually wander to the water front,
where he would sitNon the wharves until
late at night. That he was revolving the
value of life may be easily perceived when
ID is known that he often argued in favor
of suicide In talking with Horace J. Thur
low, publisher of the Figaro Last Tues
day he went to Tacoma, and on returning
said little OF what ne did or whom he had
been to see. His frequent visits led TO the
belief that he was interested in some
young woman. and certain letters from his
sister in California sustain that belief.
Wednesday evening he went home, after
buying Is cents worth of tobacco. and
spent the evening with Harry Ensign, his
roommate. Up to IL o'clock he smoked
eleven pipefuis of tobacco, and became so
nervous that his roommate demonstrated
with him. saying that he would Kill him.
self If he was not moderate. Cook replied
that he thought so too. and to relieve the
tension ON his nerves would go out and
walk. He left the room, taxing with him
q short, cheap revolver.
In the morning Cook was still missing
from his room and Ensign, becoming anx-
ious about him, went to the police station.
There he learned that between 6 and I
o'clock in the morning a fisherman return.
ing home found Cooks lifcless body
stretched on McNaught's wharf. He lay
on his back with both arms at his sides
and q revolver In his right hand, the
thumb still ON the trigger. His feet hung
over the edge of the wharf, creating the
impression that he intended to fall into
the water after shooting himself. Had he
been successful il would have been doubt
full who fired the shot.
Coroner Horton was soon at the scene
and examined the body. There was little
blood, and the only thing that showed
where the bullet entered was o missing
front tooth aud the discolored lips In
stead of sticking the muzzIe Of the re-
volver into his mouth and thus having
only the roof plate to pierce before the
bullet entered the brain. he held it before
his teeth. shooting out tooth and his life.
Cook had no money, but number Of
letters and cards were found on his body.
The latter were from the secretaries of the
typographical unions of San Francisco,
Portland, Tacoma and Seattle, stating that
he was an apprentice. The letters were
from his two sisters and BROTHER at Col
lege City, CAL, and Rev. g. H. Feese, pas
tor of the Epwor,h NJ. E. church, Tacoma.
The last mentioned gave Cook a good
character and recommended him to any
NJ Z. church in this city. Coroner Hor-
ton found two exploded and one unex-
ploded cartridge in the revolver, which
led him 10 believe that Cook tried two
shots before succeeding in ending his life.
The coroner decided that an inquest was
unnecessary, and had the remains removed
TO Bonney d Stewards undertaking rooms.
Cook was "A years old and native of
College City, Cal, where his people still
live. He hgs friends in SAN Francisco and
in Tacoma. In the latter place he lived
three years. working part OF the time for
the Pacific Printing Company. While
there II is supposed ne formed the attach
ment which caused him unhapp.ness. In
appear anee he was more of boy than a
man. He was tail. of medium weight,
smooth-faced and had dark hair.
A telegram was sent yesterday 10 his
relatives at College City for instructions as
10 the disposal of the body.
BENT ON sELF-DEsrRUCTIoN