The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-09
FOR A WOMAN'S LOVE.
The Sad Story of a Young PhIladelphian's
Suicide.

| Su1Clu0s
The following additional facts in
reference to the suicide of young
man at North, in the upper edge OF
Orangeburg County, is taken from the
Columbia State.
1--WE. the undersigned, find that
Jack w. Travis came to his death by
a pistol shot fired by his hand" So
read the foreman Of the jury at the in
quest held by Magistrate Smith.
We often read in romance OF men
dying for love. but we'll balanced
minds always look for some other
cause save that of love, but from all
the evidence in this case it seems that
the rash deed was caused by the rejec.
ton of his suit by a fair girl.
Travis was handsome young man
of 81 years. He came to this place
several months ago with the train
crew that is at work on the Edisto
trestle. He was employed some ten
months ago at Yulee, Fla by the fore.
man, and remained with them until
about month ago, when the force of
hands was reduced. Travis lost his
situation, but continued 10 make his
headquarters at the shanty cars, sta
toned at an embankment just south OF
the Edisto. He was very Intelligent
young man and we'll spoken of by his
fellow workmen, but beyond telling
them that he had brothers in Phila
delphia he seems not to have had any
con6dants.
Some time ago he commenced to
pay marked attention to handsome
young lady. What encouragement
he met with can only be surmised,
but from a letter addressed to the
young lady, with the request that it
be shown to the authorities, so that no
one should be accused of his murder,
he does not answer her, but breathes
only prayer of love, and says that he
has had grand opportunities, but that
without her life is a burden too hard
to be borne.
Yesterday morning he visited the
young lady's father, telling him he
had come 10 bid him q final farewell,
and placed a letter in his hands with
the request that it should not be opened
until they heard from him. The gen
tleman tried TO cheer him, but he in
sisted that his troubles at home and
here were more than he could bear.
After leaving the above place he pro-
ceeded TO the shanty cars; from there
to where the men were at work, asking
one of them to lend him q pistol to
shoot rabbit. He then returned to
the car, packed up all OF his clothing,
wrote and addressed letter, placing
it on table. He removed the bed
ding, leaving only the springs on the
cot. A few moments later several OF
the men passing heard a shot in the
car, and on forcing open the door be-
held the unfortunate young man ly-
lug on his back on the springs Of the
bed, with a bloody wound in the left
breast and the smoking 38 calibre
Smith & Wesson pistol on the floor
by his side.
In few moments the soul of the
unfortunate had been rushed to meet
his doom. Clutched in his left hand
was folded envelope, on which was
written:
1 love you, are my last
words. 1890 I have shot myself"
The sealed letter on the table, ad-
dressed to whomsoever it may concern,
read as follows:
North, S. G.
"Please notify Mr.. -, also Miss
-, of my death. Tell them it is
time to open the blue envelope. l
have taken my own life; the reasons
are not worth while writing.
"P. S.-Please put my death in the
Philadelphia papers"
In the letter shown by the father of
the young lady, he stated he was born
in Nevada and raised in Philadelphia !;
that he lad no father or mother, but
three brothers. He requested that he
should be buried on the hill near the
dark waters of the Edisto, where he
met his untimely end.