Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-09-14

Oscar E. BOUTWELL, PASSES
OVER TIE DARK RIVER

OSCAR E. BOUTWELL, PASSES
OVER TIE DARK RIVER
lie was >omcW hat Of ReClusc.
bur Imi,rr>aiiy Respccted-He
Wade the Most Deliberate Prep.
urations tor his Departure-A
victim of >wc denbOrgian Phil-
osophy.
The public were startled Wednes-
dav by the report brought over from
the Wc.t-ile hy H. B. Smedley, that
oscar r. Boutwell,, u pioneer OF the
state and city, had committed suicide.
The report passed rapidly from mouth
to mouth, and a search was made
for the Coroner. That officer being
absent at Seattle, Justice Rathbun, ac-
colnpanied by County Physician
NOVEL;, Chief OF Police Snyder, Deputy
Sheriff Northup and County Attorney
Root, proceeded to the premises OF the
deceased, where they found him in his
wood shed, lying on platform evil
IDENTIFY constructed, as was other APP
planes, especially to consummate
this final act of his life. He had
driven a peg into the wall, on which
he had sighted his gun, which was i'm
movably fixed on supports at the
opposite side OF the shed. From the
trigger OF the gun, carried in staples
driven in the wall, he had run a cord
to point that he could reach while
. reclining on the platform. He had
}then taken his position, his right ear
resting on the peg in the wall, and his
head supported by comfort, or bed
spread, to bring it in perfect range
Over his face and body he had placed
a cloth, evidently to prevent the blood
from splattering his face. After he
had taken his position it only required
a pull at the cord to send a 32-caliber
ball crashing through his brain. The
shot must have produced instant
death, and he was found with his
hands crossed and his countenance
bearing no evidences of agony which
would have left there imprint had
pain resulted from the wound. The
deceased had made preparations in
detail for the act. He had shaved,
and arrayed himself in his best suit,
and left his papers and household ef-
fects in perfect order. Just before he
bid adieu to the world. evidently, he
nailed \ blackboard to the woodshed
with the inscription: Look in the
woodshed." Smedley followed out the
injunction and was Mortified to dis
cover the corpse. On a table was
found the following message:
81 owe no one. Bury me in the
Mud Bay burying ground. Put me
in the coffin as you find me. If my
body should stand over night, put me
in one of the tight rooms that will
keep out rats and mice. What money
have is in my pocket"
His spectacles were found lying be-
side the memorandum, and slate on
which WAS enumerated some tools
that had been loaned and q statement
that his taxes had been paid. In
tin box Justice Rathbun found his
will which appoints JOS. Lammon ex-
ecutor, and directs that his property
be sold. Out of the proceeds he re-
quests that plain stone be placed at
the head OF his grave bearing this in
scription: oscar F. Boutwell,, born
in Chatauqua county, N. Y, October
%, 1924" A smaller stone, he directs,
10 be placed at the foot of his grave.
al bequeath," the document reads,
"to my brother, John S. Boutwell,, of
Auroraville, Wis, all the remainder of
the proceeds of the above named sale,
together with what money I may
Re. This composes my real estate:
Nbts C and I, Boutwell's addition to
West Olympia; also lots 2 and 3. Giles
subdivision OF Boutwell's addition of
lot 3 lots IL and IL, block 81, Bout
wells addition TO North Olympia.
The deeds for these two lots are lost,
but you will find them on record. l
also have 92 100 of an acre of tide
land in front of my property on the
westside."
The document is signed by Reuben
Peachey, William F. Yantis and F.
Graham, as witnesses, and is dated
July 23d, 1894. It is said that for
mer will was made by which he left
his property to the Religio-P hilosophi-
cal Journal, published in New York.
In q bookcase were a number OF
works dealing ON occult subjects,
which bear evidence of considerable
use. He came here early in the Cos,
and has always lived on his home
stead, which bears U. S. Grants sigma
ture and was dated in May, 1870.
This act was no surprise to some OF
his friends. A couple of weeks ago he
told visitor that he would not live
much longer, but as his health was
not in perfect order, it was surmised
that he meant merely q natural
death. Last Tuesday he gave Mr..
Eaton the address of his brother in
Wisconsin, and the tragic act explains
the reason for this precaution.
In compliance with his request, de-
ceased will be buried at Mud Bay
Tomorrow afternoon, and his broth.
er has been notified of the sad event.