The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-08
HIS TROUBLES ENDED.
Strychnine Saves Samuel Long
From His Imagination.
SUICIDE BY PAINFUL MEANS.
A Railroad Foreman Drinks . Fatal
Cocktail to Escape Imaginary
Trouble With His Son.

Samuel Long, lately employed as foreman on
the Great Northern east OF the mountains. and
man possessed of some property, committed sui
eide yesterday morning at the boarding house
OF Allan Mclean, Sic Pike street, By drinking a
cocktail made of strychnine and various other
ingredients. The cause OF the deed, as given
by himself, was whisky and trouble over his
property.
Long stopped work on the railroad a short
time ago: came TO this city and took a room al
3l6 Pike street on December -. On January :
he went to snohomish, where he said his wife
was living, and got some money. He returned
January 4. and took room at the same place on
Pike street. Almost Immediately re began
drinking heavily, and on several occasions tod
people IN the house that he wGs going 10
Xii himself. When he was talking ID this
strain he usually laughed, giving the impress
sion to his hearers that he was joking. He ives
continually talking about trouble with his son
over pro oeriy and could not banish the idea tnas
an attempt was being made TO deprive him OF
his rights. Friday afternoon he was more in.
tox.cated than usual and tried to take a dose In
which he sad there was poison. John Dunlap.
one of the dodgers in the house, and one 10
whom the old man seemed TO taKe great fancy,
got the bottle away from him and threw 1t into
the back yard. The people in the house thought
Long had the delirium treruens and tue proprl-
etor reported the matter 20 the police ia order
to have Long taken care OF.
Yesterday morning Long wen. into ths
Eclipse saloon, at SO Pike street. and presuu-
ing upon his friendship with Frank Mcdonald,
the proprietor, got haf pint OF WHISKY. he
was evidently N his senses because OF two bot
ties, one at either end of the sideboarl back OF
the bar. he insisted on his choice, saying he
wanted good whisky. The quality Was the
same, but Mcdonald allowed him to have his
way and he went out, remarkiug that he ex-
peeted to receive some checks due for his Work
on the Great Northern. He went back TO the
house, and about O'Clock went into the
kitchen. where Mr.. and Mrs. Mclean were, and
alter q moment put his hands to his chest aid
groaned, as i. n pain.
what il the trouble with your" sad Mclean.
"Well, guess I've done il this time" was the
reply
''W hat ere you talking about7" said Mclean
"Wny, I've taken enough strychnine to settle
me this time, guess" replied Long, and while
he held TO his assertion his hearers believed it
was whisky and Jim jams" Mclean, how
ever, got nervous aud went to the police station
TO report the matter and have h N taken care OF.
Alter he was gone Long continued TO act rs
though in pain, sometimes acting nationally
ana at others a. if crazy. Finally he went to his
room and one OF the women in the house went
out and found Officer Peer. When the officer
entered the room Long started up and asked
him ii he came there to arrest him.
'Oh, no." said the officer, 81 just came to see
how you were getting along"
"rhat's all right" said Long, "but thousand
policemen couldn't arrest me-"
whats the matter with you. anyway" said
Peer.
"Nothing but whisky and trouble" was the
reply.
"Have you got any strychnine about your
''Yes," said Long, "and some in me-"
81 guess you're joking, said Peer, "and its
whisky you've got in you"
Eyes, I've got WHISKY and poison in me, too.
but / M al right: don't you trouble yourself
about me-
Officer Peer finally got Long to lie down on
the bed and found a oue-eighth-ounce vial of
stryehnine in his vest pocket. About this time
Long complained of pain in his chest and took
g handkerchief from his pocket and raised it TO
his forehead. The officer ran 10 DR.. Eames' Of
nee in the Heussy block, but not finding him in,
returned 10 Longs room to see how he was get
ting along.
When he entered Long lay in almost the same
position as when he left him. In his hand was
the handkerchief with which he had wiped his
brow. There Were no signs of struggle. He
had simply breathed his last ami finished the
work lie had contemplated for several days.
Coroner Horton was summoned and after view
ing the remains had them removed TO Bonuey
& stewards undertaking rooms There Will be
no inquest
The dead mans effects were limited, consist
ing OF an empty whisky bottle and another in
which was small amount OF liquor mixed
with strychnine crystals, coffee and celery This
mixture contained enough poison to kill several
men, and he also had three oDe-eghth ounce
bottles, all labelled 'strychnine." One WAS
empty and the other two each about half full.
He had letter OF recommendation from the
road master OF the Lake shore road, given last
May and stating that he had worked Tor four
20 , a f,5tS
empoye. It also stated that ne lett by his own
choice. A Great Northern time book was also
found, ana in it were figures that showed that
he was working Tor that company in November.
In appearance Long was a rugged man, q owe
the medium height, and would weigh about 10
pounds. He had thin gray hair and mu,tsche
and hollow cheeks. According to n statement
made by him a few days before death, he was -
years old and native OF Prince Edwards
Island. He married twice and has son
Alphonso by his first wife. He was married the
lust time Las. spring and this vile is now either
mt snohomish or Aachias, in Snohomish county.
According to friends OF the dead man be has
been very little with his las. wife on account of
being away on railroad work, but their married
life has been pleasant.
Longs property consists mostly of real estate,
located at Machias, in snohomish county, and
Peudleton, Or. and what are supposed to be
valuable possessions on Mission street in san
Francisco. The day before he diei he told
Frank d. Mcdonald. proprietor OF the Eclipse
saloon, on Pike street, that he intended 20 60 20
san Francisco 10 see about his Mission street
property soon he got money from the Great
Northern railroad. He made a confi-!anr Of
Mcdonald anu told him much concerning his
troubles. He was under the impression that his
son, Alphonse. had counseiors who were aiyis-
Ing him - try 70 get his property away. How
ever Long was drlns ing heavily OF late ana his
Imagination might have been distorted
Aphouso Long, the son III question. Is spoken
OF bright. Intelligent levGl-headed young
man. lie Is about II years old and AZ present
stopping with the station agent st Redmond
He ran the elevator in the Northern hotel bstore
it closed Mr.. Mcdonald telegrs he'd MIN yes
terday about his fathers dsath, AMI Ii is said he
arrived i'll the city last evening, but he could
not Re found. M arrangements nave been IN al .
Tor the disposal Of the body.