The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-16
A FAMOUS EPLCURE'S
ATTEMPT TO SHARVE.
HOW DIR. SOMERSET ROBINSON OF
PASO ROBES TRIED TO
HASTEN HIS DEATH.
LIFE OF A REMARKABLE MAN.
HABITS OF A CULTURED BUT EccEN-
TRIO NAVAL SURGEON WHO
HATED WOMEN.
LIFE OF A REMARKABLE MAN.

PAso RoBLEs, Feb. 15.-Dr. Somerset
Robinson, the wealthy, cultured and re-
tired old naval surgeon, whose magnifi-
cent estate and eccentric personality have
long been conspicuous features of Paso
Robles, has just given up an attempt to
starve himself into the spiritland little
before his time. He is reported to be
dying, but he has been dissuaded from
taking his own life.
DR.. Robinson is a spiritualist and me-
dium as well, for he communes with
departed friends. He says that recently
their forms multiplied about him and
beckoned him alluringly to their happier
world. He trustfully tried to cross to
them, and not being willing to take his
own life in any of the usual ways he de-
cided to starve himself to death.
The information comes from trustworthy
sources that he nearly succeeded and
would probably have reached his goal by
this time if friends in more tangible shape
had not finally turned him from his pur-
pose.
Commander Brice of the navy, who is at
Paso Robles for his health, found two
weeks ago that the lonely old man had
reached his deathbed amid the luxury for
which he no longer cared, and on sending
the information to Mare Island, where DIR.
Robinson is kindly remembered and highly
esteemed Medical Director Woods made a
special trip to Paso Robles last week He
remained there several days, and when he
left he had gotten the idea of starvation
out of Robinson's mind and had induced
him to resame eating. He did not expect
the patient to live long, but since then
friends here have notified him by wire that
Robinson is slightly better.
DR.. Somerset Robinson is one of the
many eccentric characters in California
and perhaps more than any of them he
has always displayed qualities which have
won him universal respect and love and
very kind indulgence of his many eccen-
tricities. He is an unmarried man ap-
preaching 60 years and eight years ago
passed to the retired list after serving
through an honorable career of twenty six
years as surgeon in the navy. He acquired
much medical skill, general culture and
wealth. His gentleness of nature, gener-
osity and hospitality will cause widespread
regret when he passes away.
He was born in Maryland, was educated
in Washington and entered the naval ser
| vice as assistant surgeon in 1861. During
most of the war he served in the West
| Gulf squadron, under Farragut, and after
the war was with the squadron of the Pa
| cific for several years. He became a medl-
cal inspector in 1879, and fleet surgeon of
| the North Atlantic station a little later
| For over two years prior to his retirement
| in 1887 he was stationed at the Mare Island
| Naval Hospital.
| Before his retirement he was afflicted
with rheumatic gout, and as inheritances
and lucky investments in Washington
real estate provided him with plenty of
means he travelled extensively for relief,
visiting famous doctors and famous springs.
He journeyed on his quest for health until
he found his first considerable relief in the
hot springs of Paso Robles, and there he
decided to spend the rest of his life. With
this end in view he set about surrounding
himself with all the comforts and luxu-
ries that his tastes craved.
Securing fifteen acres of land on steep