The herald., 1893-07-24
HARRY B|SSaL'S GAY LIFE,
A Promising Young Mans Sui
eide in Arizona.
Some Of His High Rolling Escapades
When Prosperous.
Business Troubles and q Lack of Con-
genial Friends Caused an At
tack of Fatal Dcpres-
sion to Him.

Harry M. Bissell, who brought hit
career to an untimely end by dose a
carbolic acid at Phoenix, A. T., on
Wednesday, was we'll known in San
Francisco and Los Angeles in polite
society, az we'll as to men about town.
His death, and especially the manner ol
his taking off. has shocked many of his
friends.
Bissell is OF good family, of the highest
social position, says the San Francisco
Chronicle, but he preferred the lively
gait of the all-nighters to the slower and
safer pace of purer surroundings. Yet a
better-hearted, braver and jollier soul
never lived. He was a Harvard man,
| graduating in the same class with Dis.
trict Attorney Barnes and W. R. Hearst.
He was a handsome fellow, almost
perfectly developed physically, and was
conspicuous figure in any gathering,
His home was at Blithedale, Marin
county.
After graduation Bissell came to this
city and soon obtained lucrative en-
ployment Until the failure of W. D..
Coleman & Co. he was in the employ Of
that firm. Subsequently he served
with the Johnson-Locke Mercantile
Company. He then Engaged in the
commission business. but did not sue
ceed. In the meantime he devoted him
self to sports, having been prominent
member of the Olympic club. a clever
tennis player and fond of sports of all
kinds. He was clever boxer, too. He
was q friend and running mate of Basil
M. Ricketts,, the well-kpown athlete and
football player, who received his boxing
education at Princeton. Both were
clever with their fists and both quick to
,resent an insult. Bissell and Ricketts,
had a disagreement. Indeed, they
quarreled violently, and agreed to fight
1t out like gentlemen. The duel could
not be thought of, SO they determined
to settle under Marquis of Queensbury
rules. They met, and Ricketts, proved
the cleverer man. his heavier weight
and rongh-and-trmo Die expe rience on
the ball field giving him decided ad-
vantage. Bissell took his punishment
in good part and the friendship was re-
newed.
About this time Bisseh became con-
nected with DR.. E. B. Perrin. the owner
of the Chsnehills ranch and other vast
estates in Fresno county and in other
sections OF the San joaquin valley. He
proved 10 be very valuable man and
soon became manager OF all of DIR. Per-
rims great colony schemes. While the
doctor was absent in Europe Bissell was
in control of the Office at 4o1 Kearney
or onA hoA he fy,l1 ovI ~h1 -
confidence Of his employer. His salary
month, and he lived at the California
hotel.
1t was during Dr.. Perrin's absence
tss posssssea aa saSGGRtTqhs Aas9 as9 s drink
tracted debauch and did not show up at
the land Office for long time. He was
leading gay life in the heart of the
city, with the Tortoni as the base OF
supplies. 10 p.
The Princess, the General Keyes and
other places furnished him no end OF
opportunities for pleasures OF all sorts
and the memory of the good times OF
those days still warns the cookies Of the
hearts OF his friepds who joined in them.
Thoee were gay times, but it proved the
pace that killed. It seemed then that
few drinks would give him q perfect
frenzy for liquor. He lost all control
over his appetite. He remained ON this
debauch for five weeks. By the end OF
at the office that a clerk sought him,
carried him away to Turkish bath and
got him to brace up and return to his
duties. He did go and cleared his desks
and had everything in good order against
the coming home of DIR. Perrin. Before
that time he had started on another
debauch, and it was given out that he
was ill. With returning reason he was
sent to Fresno, where he attended to
some business for the Perrins. He per-
formed well his duties, and became as
great favoyite there as he always was
here. His friends here heard nothing
OF him for months. When he did turn
up it was in a tragic sort of way.
One night late one of his friends liv-
ing in the heart of the city WAS sum-
moned to the door of his room by loud
and urgent alarm. There stood Bissell,
with clothes begrimed and bloody from
head to foot He was pitiable object,
bearing visible evidences OF having been
through desperate battle. 1t was cub
sequently learned that he had just come
from the receiving hospital. whittier he
had been carried from the Peerless
saloon in a dying condition, as was be-
lieved
Bissell was on one of his periodicals
on this night. He was going up Ellis
street when he passed negro, who was
standing on the curb. Being on the
verge OF the tremens he CONCEIVED the
idea that the black man had insulted
him. Then began lace. the colored
man flying up Ellis street with Harry in
hot pursuit. Down Powell and down
Market they went and round into Ellis
again. All this time Bisse,l was only
length away from the negro. The latter
ran into the Peerless by the Ellis-street
entrance and passed out by the Market
street door. The pureued had now
drawn gun. Bssell was almost against
him as the negro passed out the front
door, and Bissell struck at him.. just
then the glass door flew back and Bis
sell's fist went through a quarter-inch
plate. cutting him badly. The mo-
mentum he had attained threw him
forward, and he fell into the glass, cut
ting his head. He was taken to the re-
ceiving hospital, where his wounds
were dressed, but was released becauee
OF his influential connections. He found
shelter and tender nursing at the room
OF his friend, bat he was laid up quite
time, the wound on his head requir-
ino holf a So,an ntitchaa and healing