The San Francisco call., 1896-07-29
Mrs. Hunts Sensational Attempt
to Commit Suicide at the
Depot.
MADE UP HER MIND TO DIE
Disappointed at Being Foiled, She Was
Sent Home in the Patrol.
Wagon.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALI

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,l
908 Broadway, July %. !
Old Mary Hunt is still alive, but she has
made up her mind that there is nothing to
live for. and if the narrow-gauge engine
had not slowed up last night Mary would
have ended her sorrows on the track.
As the last train from San Francisco was
dashing up Webster street, at Midnight,
an old woman stood on the track. There
are but few people on the streets at that
hour, and the glare of the headlight was
full on the feeble black figure before some
one rushed on the track and pulled her
away.
The engineer saw the woman at the
same time, and az there is a big curve at
that point and the grade is uphill he was
able to materially reduce the speed of his
/ train in cars length. He did so, and
| Just as poor old Mary was pulled to
place of safety the engine passed.
Officer Mackey had just been out on
run to East Oakland with the patrol, and
as he was returning the woman was given
| into his custody.
At the police station she told pathetic
story to Prison-keeper Swain.
"I left home after all the others had
gone to bed," she said. "I did not want
to arouse them, SO 1 slipped out of the
house. / am an old woman, over 20 years
of age, and want to die. Yes, want to
die, as have nothing left to live for"
The old lady sank on to bench and
cried bitterly. Jailer Swain encouraged
her to continue with her story, and she
did so.
"I intended TO go to Lake Merritt and
there" It was several minutes befor e
the broken-hearted creature could speak.
eyes, had made up my mind to jump
into the lake.
when had walked as far as Webster
street, going toward the lake, was so
weary that sat down on bench to rest.
Ny feet were sore. ! have had no stock
ings for weeks and my shoes hurt my feet.
1 started to walk toward the lake, and as
did so saw the train coming up Franklin
street. I said to myself. why should 1
take the long, dark walk when L can end
it right here2 / did not hesitate a mo-
ment, for had made up my mind that 1
wanted to go. So what difference did 1t
make to me which way ended all?
81 saw the light and / never saw Iignt
look so pleasant in my life. / stared at 1t
and believe that if 1 wanted to walk off
! the track I could not have taken my eyes
off that light. Somebody pulled me off
the track. ] do not know why they did
it. wish they had left me alone and by
this time all would have been over"
, When she finished her narrative old Mrs.
Hunt was trembling all over. She was
! poorly clad and the midnight air was
chilly. In her haste she had not put her
, hat on and her thin shawl was drawn over
her head. At first it was thought that the
poor woman had been drinking, but the
, thought was quickly dispelled. She was
, simply a poor, broken-down old woman
who had outlived her age of usefulness
and who was truly anxious to seek relief
in death.
J Officer Mackey took from the prison
, dispensary bottle of a drug labeled
brandy" and gave the shivering woman
! good dose. She then proceeded to tell
. them where her home was and that she
, lived with daughter. The officers were
about to let her depart when she said that
, she would not trouble any one much
longer.
There was q tone about her "Good-
, night" that caused the jailer to call her
back. He refused to let her go alone, so
the patrol-wagon was pressed into service
and Officer Mackey took the woman to her
: home at Twentieth and Chestnut streets.
Her friends were surprised when she was
. delivered to them by an officer, and still
more so when they heard Of her midnight
mission.