The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-27
HER LIFE WRECK.
Kate johnson Thinks the Best
Thing Is to End 1t.
SO SHE ATTEMPTS DROWNING.
Deserted BY Her Lover. She Jumps In
Out-Her Wsyward Life.

Kate Johnson, who has been living with
North Seattle, attempted suicide yester-
day morning at $50 o'clock by throwing
herself into the harbor at the foot of
Spring street. The cause of the deed was
whisky and the desertion of her lover.
According to the unfortunate woman's
story, she met Bird in house of ill-fame
In Vancouver about three years ago and
accompanied him to this city, where they
have lived ever since. Their last residence
was lib Bell street in a small white house,
which is now tightly closed and exhibits
no signs Of life. So long as Kate john
son, or Mrs. Bird, as she called herself, let
liquor alone things went we'll with the ex
ception Of family quarrel now and then.
VI late, however, things have been going
wrong at the house. and the policeman on
the beat has received complaints of rsvelry
by night. AS near as can be learned, a
great deal of it took place when the man
of the house was absent.
The upshot of the matter was that one
day last week the woman came to police
headquarters and complained to Capt.
Sims that MI. Bird had removed some of
the furniture from their house and sold it
and that he used her shamefully and beat
her. The captain told her that the police
had nothing to do with the furniture. but
if she wanted to do anything with her
husband she had better apply to the prose-
cutting attorney. She appeared at head
quarters again last Thursday morning in
the patrol wagon, drunk aud in a condi-
ton that showed dissipation. She had
been taken from the Iowa house ON Front
street by Officer O'Brien, who was called
in to see what could be done with q woman
who either had the delirium tremens or an
epleptic fit. During the day man who
said he knew her when she was little girl
came to the Jail and took her out 1t ap-
peared that she was released only to go
down hill the faster. From saloon to
saloon she went. drinking and carousing
and sleeping in lodging houses wherever
the night found her.
The influence Of the whisky the thoughts
of her trouble with her lover and the black
future led to q determination to end her
life. Yesterday morning she walked to
the Spring street wharf and stood for
moment looking down into the water.
Then without word she gave a slight
jump in the air and went straight down
into the water fifteen feet below. The
sudden shock from the cold water made
her give an involuntary shrek, and the
bystanders on the wharf aroused them
selves to action. Harbor Master Jelich
threw plank to her, which she grabbed
and hung to, while the captain of the
barkentine T. w. Lucas came to her assist
ance in boat. He grabbed her by the
shoulders and held on, Notwithstanding
the fact that she took 1t into her head that
she had better 90 under, and commenced
ducking her head. In a short time help
came from Carl Denny's boat house, and
the water-soaked would-be suicide was
taken to the fireboat house.
To all questions as to the cause or her
identity she turned a deaf ear. The patrol
wagon was called and she was taken to
the police station and made as comfortable
as possible. When seen by Posr-INrELLI-
GENcER reporter, she was shivering from
the effects of her cold bath and showed
the effects of whisky. For a time she
talked rational, but towards the close of
the interview gave evidences of being
slightly out Of her head.
She said she jumped in the bay with the
simple intention Of killing herself and
thought it would be the best thing for her
if someone would take her down again
name was not Mrs. Bird, she replied that
her right name was Kate Johnson, but
tina. she had lived for three years with
Louis Bird. She would not tell who Bird
was. but implied that he went under
another name in this city. Then she spoke
of her troubles and attributed her rash
act to drink, illness and trouble at home.
About this time the Salvation Army was
hQa inc
became wild in her talk and spoke of her
lover as the man who did the yelling in
some place she could not remember.
"Yes," she said, che is think they call
him the lieutenant.
Lieutenant of the Salvation Army was
suggested. but she replied in an impatient
manner. "No. no. He has been here to
see me and was standing at the door few
minutes ago. On, what is it that he does?
l can't think but he knows me-"
Kate Johnson is 81 wears old, of medium
height and decided blonde. with light
short hair and blue eyes. Her maiden
name was Kate Addington, and she was
born in Nottingham, England. When a
young girl she went to Melbourne, Aus
tralia, and met a man named Thomas
johnson, who subsequently married her.
He died in less than two years after the
marriage. leaving no children. She re-
manned In Melbourne three years longer
and then came to British Columbia. She
eventually drifted into house of ill-fame
at Victoria, where she says she met the
man she calls Bird. Since then she has
lived in Seattle. Her only living relative
is her father, John Addington. who was in
Nanaimo. b. c., two years ago.
Late Yesterday afternoon che askod IL.
Jailer Sheehan and told him she wanted a
doctor, as she had received some injuries a
few days ago. A doctor was called, but
she Oh ms red her mind aud raf,,a.d - L.