The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-28
A Well known Tacoman Com
mitts Suicide at Chicago.
TOOK A DOSE OF cALoRoFoRs,.
The Manner of Death Had Been Con-
cealed by His Relatives.
his Srhcme to Maintain y Washington
Club At Chicago Failed and lie BE-
came Despondent-He He mains of Jef-

NhHAaos Nay Is. y. VI heelwrIghs1
ex-mayor of Tacoma, committed suicide
at his room az the home OF Edwin Will
Jams. 2ss5 Grovcland avenue. a week ago
last Thursday night. This is conceded by
relatives this evening in the face OF the
caroner's verdict that death was accI-
dental. His friends and relatives in this
eiiy attempted 10 keep the iscts Of his
death from the pubic. and his less init
mate friends were told tha. he had died
suddenly from natural causes. On Thurs
day. Nav Is. the coroner wal notified by
W. T.. Wills. a nephew of the deceased.
and the inquest was hela the same day.
Only the relatives OF the Williams family
were present and the proceedings were
kept secret. Mr.. Wheelwright had lived
ut the house for several weeks. On the
evening of May II. when he went to his
rooms. he was restless and his actions
were peculiar. tie left the house for "a
short time, and when he returned he went
directly 10 his bedroom. The next morn
ing when he was called for breakfast
there was no response. The door was
forced and the dead body found.
Wheeiwright actions for several weeks
had beed peculiar. and his friends believed
that his mind was failing. 4 long spell OF
dependency, ended only by death. was
caused by financial inability to carry out
long planned scheme OF estahishin; in
Chicago Washingtonian club. the
object of which was to accommodate those
citizens OF the state OF Washington
who became its members while visiting
the exposition. He in part carried out
the plans, but they failed before being
competed. Already large number of
the most prominent men in Washington
hadbecome members aud paid fees. Fail
ing in his plans after they were 80 far adj
vanced and compelled to disappoint those
whom he had solicited to become mem-
bers. he becasne respondent and took his
own life with chloroform.
Several acquaintances of deceased when
seen tonight repeated the story that he
had been despondent for some time past
on account Of the failure OF his
club scheme and the fact that ne
would he compelled to disappoint those
who had subscribed to membership. One
Of the last things he did was TO write n let
ter to n friend i'll charge OF another West
ern club here, requesting him to look
alter the members OF his tWheelwright'sl
club free OF farther expense. II is said
over 100 Neutrality-suspicious. had subscribed
to memberships.
Is A. Wheelwrigh, was a native OF Massachu-
sets, aged about 90 years. and a grad
uats of Dartmout. college. Tor many years
he was in business in New York city. sln 1855
Mr.. Wheelwrjght came TO Tacoma aud, after y
short period went into business
an iron merchsn, oa Pacific avenue.
Tacoma was small town then,
business was dull. and Mr. wheelwrighs's capi.
tai did not admit OF keeping a stock that
would enable him 10 compete with
Portland and san Francisco iifma Some
years later Mr Whceiwrigh', finding that tho
business required capital, associated himself
with t. NJ Hunt Later on Ms. Wheclwrght
retired from tho business. teing succeeded
by Frederick Mottet. aud the firm now exists
| NJ HUNT Il Mot,et Mr. Wheetwrlght was, alter
his retirement, from business elected ~ secretary
of the Chamber o; Commerce, serving IN
that capacity until 1889. when he was elected
mayor of Tacoms, serving one term. II
was during his term of Office that the
| Crosby murder occurred, and the indignation
OF cit.sens was aroused at the isxity of police
! affairs. public meeting was held. at whica
Mayor Wheelwrigh, Was scored for
| his alleged dcrcliction in not keeping
! the city under better control! A, this meeting
a dramatic scene occurred when Mayor
| the center Of the hail, aacendcd
to the stage and boldly faced
. his aocusers. making his defense in voice
| trembling with indignation, suppressed
| wrath and emotoa- MIR. wheeIwriTht
| was genial man, and fond of the good things
| Of life He began drinking heavily after his re-
treinea: IRON the oifice OF mayor bsing defeated
at the following election, and only alter nearly
| !orfei;ing the respect OF the friends who
/ had stood by him did he turn
| over new leaf Then FOR sew.
erst years ho endeAvored TO retrieve his
| fortune aad reputation, bu. had hardly
| succeeded when bis old habits came
back 70 him aud he fell from grace 10 die
n p;.aslo desth-iaat OF tho suicide
| Mr. wheciwright hal many friends among
/ all casses. Hi. geniaity. wit, rcnscman.v
aud courteous bearing, and lis Kindness OF
/ hear. made him friendA While he was
| secretary of The Chamber OF Commerce aad
| during his ineambsncy os the may
/ orsi;y be always aided the poor
and needy who applied for helr. Many
acts OF this kind stand 10 bis credit,
| bat only those OF his friends nearest
| 10 him kneM OF bis acts Of charity. which he
| never passded. IL IL said tia. family
| trouble. had b!ishsed the ersiser
/ days of his lie. However. this
| xas mere rumor. He ncver told anyone his
| secret sorrow. IL be had any. About
! four yesrs ago hs sou Harold
| came GU, from the East TO i've with his
| ta;her AboG; tso and half years
ago he went 10 Lewis county 10 take
| an some land. and since thea Re hiss rarely
| lsecn seen In Tscoms, ana has not Deen tkcfe
/ nxe- a