The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-06-11
A PRINTERS LIFE STORY.
HOW JOSEPH B. PIERsON LIVED,
DRANK AND DIED.
a well-Known Typs-setter Suicides
with Morphine to End an
Existence Fraught with
Misery.

The Stockton Mail: II have taken 20
cents worth OF morphine"
These were his last words. The half
smoked cigarette fell from his lips, and
as the cigar dealer sprang to his feet, the
speaker sank to the floor. dead.
Then came the police; the patrol
wagon; the hurried examination and
the verdict of the coroner's jury. On
q slab at the San Francisco morgue lay
the sheet-covered body OF Joseph B.
Pierson.
This happened Wednesday evening.
The suicide was well-known printer,
who, before he clicked his last types
upon the stick, had set many q fat and
lean take here in Stockton.
Joe Pierson was So years OF age when
he took his fatal dose. His life was full
of ups and downs-the ups while he WAS
young, and the downs in later life when,
like to many OF the typos" OF his gen.
Grafton, he became very fond of whisky.
He lost first his position, then his home,
and became an Ishmaelite among his
craft. For dozen years he wandered
up and down the coast, getting night
or days work here and there as Sub"
in various offices. Constantly sinking
lower and ever lower, he arrived in
Stockton about year ago.
He was physical wreck. A long
continued spree had shattered his
nerves, and some too convivial, pugna-
cious companion had battered his eyes
until they were swollen and blackened.
Like most of his class he was a
''morning paper man." and he naturally
drifted into the Office of the Independ-
emit.
From frame to frame he wandered,
and to each 'print'' he stated his case.
He told how he had carried the ban
ner" from Virginia City to San Francis
co, and deplored the lack of "haDd-
outs" on the route. He said "Times
amt what they used to be. boys. The
new outfit OF prints is N. G. they don't
panhandle for darn"
At last he reached the imposing-stone
and, leaning over 1t, said to the foreman
in husky tones "Well, pardner, how's
work ." He staggered as he chung to
the stone and waited for the answer.
He added: 81 want to sub tonight and
get out OF this jay town."
Before the foreman could answer, q
young man stepped from his alley, and
approaching Joe, said:
"Come, father, there is no use in your
trying to work tonight. You amt fit
Come home"
The young man was Joe's son the
son whom he had not met for years
The old man was moved to tears. Ht
wept and bemoaned his fate. Then hs
vowed to reform. He accompanied hi
son to his home, aid he did reform.
He secured position and for q time
worked steadily and drank no liquor
After several months he fell again, and
wrecked once more, he wandered away
again tramp The boy removed II
Woodland.
Another event in Joe's life shows thai
he was not without ability to take ad-
vantage of events.
While in San Francisco he learned
that Joseph w. Pierson had been ap
nnj 4taia t. arIs at once went to Sacra
mento, reported for duty and begal
work.
Strongly enough the rightful ap
pointee, Joseph W.. did not put in al
appearance for several months. O
course when he did Joseph b. was fired
ignominiously. He only laughed, TO
during his incumbency he had draw
s28 week with steady hand. TIL,
result was another spree, another era O