The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-07-12

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=. Rev. W. II. Milburn, the blind chaplain OF
the House OF Representatives, is deepiy pros
trated over the sad suicide OF his son Mt Chi
cago and has furnished. the following state
ment for the public:
1T is hard that the silence which beflts the
presence OF death should be broken and that
tne ven should be lifted which belongs TO the
sacredness OF the family and its relations.
But in this awful extremity no other course
seems open that the only earthly possession
IeIt me, good name. should be preserved
My son, Fletcher Harper Milburn who would
nave been forty years of age in September
was Tor long time the victim OF the alcohol
ulsease. But last summer spent some time
at retreat in Denver and was pronounced
by It's authorities perfectly cured and himself
assured that he had lost all taste for LIQUOR
and gave me the pledge of his honor that he
would never use il again.
These assurances gave me immeasurable
happiness. His frequent draughts upon nv
narrow income OF later years had always
been promptly and kindly met not seldom
was the last cent then possessed RENTED
70 him or for his use, but now that he was re-
stored 10 sound mind and body he promised
TO support himself. From that day, beliey-
ing in his thorough cure and the steadfast-
ness OF his will, have used every means In
my power, confident that l was Justified in
doing so by truth and honor, to enable him
20 regain the position in the world he had
lost and to which his energy, business talents
and accomplishments entitled him. And my
heart glowed with the hope Of seeing my sole
surviving son filling an honorable place
among men.
My efforts have been unsparing to secure
MIN position under the Government with
the hope Of success, and meanwhile tried to
lind situation in Chicago to tide over the
period oil waiting for better place, at the
same time urging him to remain in Denver
until my friends and myself could secure for
him such position. Against my earnest
and repeated advice he started, was two
weeks on the way and seems TO have fallen
into temptation and yielded. l had given
MIN letter OF strong recommendation, ad-
dressed to number OF friends in Chicago,
and when there at the opening OF the Worlds
Fair had interested others in his behalf.
when his telegram came on Friday even
ing last, asking to come here my heart failed
me, having no money OF my own with which
TO care for him, and l saw what must have
happened. l wired and also wrote immedi-
ately, stating the condition of the house and
iamlly here-my only brothers widow and
ehtldren-and telling him OF my own circum-
stances-narrow and hard, informing him at
the same time that a number Of my letters
awaited him in care OF my friend. W.
Quincey.
''He said nothing about being penniless,
but nthe contrary wrote just before leaving
Denver that he saved a considerable sum OF
money, which l supposed was still in his
hands.
Then came the terrible news an hour or
two after midnight. / have bowed with
reyerent submission to the will Of Him whose
ways are past finding out, and from the four
fold darkness in which / stand-age, power
ty, blindness and sorrow-with lifted hand
declare before God and the world that have
used my best intelligence to rescue and re-
deem my son, and in the unmistakable
anguish Of this affiiction / appeal to the
kind Judgment and sympathy of all sorts
and conditions Of men throughout the land.
lSignedl ''W. Ii. MILBURN.