The sun., 1896-12-12
MRS. C00PER'S TRAGIC END
SHE AND HER DAUGHTER DEAD IN
THEIR SAN FRANCISCO HOME.

The Daughter Thought to Have Turned 81
the Gns to End both Lives. As She HaA
Tried to DO This Twice Berero-Tho
Mother Col. IngeraoIs CouSin and .
PbiInnthropist OF National Reputation.
SAN Francisco, Dec. ll.-Mrs. Sarah B.
Cooper, famed throughout tho entire United
States because of her untiring zeal in works OF
charity. and her daughter, Miss Hattie Cooper.
found dead in bed at the Cooper residence.
1902 Vallejo street. this morning. both having
been asphyXinted by gas. All evidence tends to
show that Miss Cooper. who suffered from
acute melancholia, arose after her mother hed
fallen asleep, and. with suicidal intent turned
on the gas. When discovered both bodies wore
rigid. death having occurred several hours
before. The news of the tragedy which sproad
with great rnpdity. caused one of the greatest
sensations San Francisco has ever experienced.
Only Mrs. Coopcrs most intimate friends fore
saw the possibility OF such tragic ending OF
her worthy life. BY those closest to her 1t was
feared that Miss Hattie's morbid nature might
ultimately develop a more violent form Of in
sanity.
DR.. Sidney Worth. the Cooper family phy-
scian. this evening made public the announces
ment that on two occasions within the last few
months Miss Cooper attempted to take her own
life and that OF her mother by turning on the
gas. On both occasions Mrs Cooper restrained
her only after a struggle.
Last evening Miss Cooper seemed unusually
depressed. Within the hearing Of the Chinese
servant she remarked to her mother:
II am tired OF life; want to join father, and
want you to go with me-"
The two women retired at the usual hour and
were not disturbed. This morning the Chinese
servant knocked at their door and announced
that breakfast was ready.
Getting no response. he opened the door and
almost overpowered by the smell Of gas.
He went to the bedside and shook Mrs. Cooper,
and was horrifed to find her body cold and
rigid. He then hurried out Of the house and
alarmed the neighbors.
Some months ago Miss Cooper became ao-
quainted with the fact that insanity was heridi-
tary in her fathers family. several members OF
which had succumbed to suicidal mania.
From that hour the young woman believed her
self doomed and constantly brooded oa self-de-
structon.
In vain her mother reasoned with her and At
tempted to nurse her back to sanity. but to no
purpose. Finding her efforts vain she calmly
wrote her will, and concealing her sorrow from
all save the family physician and three or fSar
intimate friends she awaited the inevitable.
The document in question bears the date Of
Oct o. 1885, and bequeaths all real and personal
property OF the testator to her two sisters, Mrs.
J. a. Skilton, 444 Hancock street, Brooklyn. n.
Y. and Mrs. Reese N. Rawlings. East Lake,
Tenn.
Mrs. Sarah f. Cooper was born at Cazenovia.
y. V. sixty-one years ago. The Ingersoll fam
lily. OF which she was a member and which in-
cludes the famous Col. Robert G. Ingersoli. Mrs.
Coopers cousin, is well known and highly re-
spected In New York State. as well rs in Ohio.
where many OF them still reside.
She married Halsey Fennimore Cooper. who
killed himself here in 1855. In 1879 she organ
ized the Golden Gate kindergarten Association.
Aside from the work for the children. Mrs.
Cooper took the greatest interest in the culture
and uplifting OF women. She was q
member of the Women's Pacific Coast
Press Association. OF the Suffrage Organization.
the Women's Congress, and the Century Club.
In 1894 Mrs. Cooper elected Treasurer of
the Worlds Federation OF Women's Clubs
In May last Mrs Cooper. attended by her
daughter, went East to be present at the Con-
vention OF the last-named organization which
was held at Louisville. Ky.
After the return from the East both were
busy for time getting the kindergarten work
in order for the opening term.
Very soon however, Miss Hatties condition
became serious that she was obliged to rest.
Her trouble was nervous prostration. and hts Of
depression were frequent
Mrs. Cooper recently expressed tho fear that
the worst might be expected in Miss Hattie's
case. and had declared that her own heart
trouble was of such nature that che
would be unable TO survive the shock of her
daughters death. With this in view. Mrs.
Cooper and her daughter both prepared their
wills and arranged everything as systematically
as possible.
Perhaps no more fitting tribute to Mrs Cooper
could be written than that penned by Col.
Ingersoll upon giving Mrs. Cooper a copy of one
OF his books atscking the religion OF tho
churches. Col. lngersoll wrote on fly leaf
these words:
III all Christians were like my cousin Sarah.
this book would never have been written"