The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-02

1Ou1SnL.
Captain II. A Niedenhofen, clerk of
the district court at Butte, destroyed
himself in this city yesterday after
noon by jumping from the roof of the
Wey hotel into an alley in the rear Of
the building. In thus inqicting death
Niedenhofen was but true to sworn
resolution that he would turn the final
leaf on the threshold of a new year.
He was a fatalist in its most liberal
sense.
While dangling from the caves Of the
building by his hands. he asked with
immoderate cOmposure what was the
date. Then in the assurance that the
pulse of 1897 had begun to beat Me
denhofen fell swiftly a distance of 80
feet. the body making several rapid
revolutions, striking upon the top of
the skull and causing a fracture of the
odOntoid process at the base of the
brain. His lips never moved after the
concussiOn, and Is minutes later the
remains We're removed to the morgue,
behind which the body bad fallen.
STORY OF HIS LIFE.
NiedenhOfen's story conveys a moral
TO this rapid age of young men, He
came to Butte years ago with his
family and engaged in business. From
the beginning his overWeaning ambi-
ton was to attain great wealth and in
close sympathy was desire to bios
som into an ora tor. He emerged into
politics and had bestowed upon him
10y the Republican party various posi-
tions Cf public trust Finally succeed
ing IN receiving the appointment TO the
Office of which he was the incumbent
at the time of his death. The battle
fer popularity and political fortune in
the fast places of Butte life attracted
the young man TO companionships
which laid the foundation for his
death. Unreasonable hours and at
terCant dissipa tiOn wrecked his nerv-
Gus system and left him unfit TO per
form the duties of his office on several
occasions Niedenhofen was ordered
away for recreation, but his constant
desire for personal aggrandizement and
advancement brought him back in
feverish haste to the swift pace
of the Montana metropolis. His
energy was of the steam engine type,
he would force himself to prepare
tasks wholly Inadequate for three men.
NiedenhOfen's mother was in affiuent
circumstances, having been peculiarly
fortunate in conducting a large con-
fectiOnary business in Butte and she
\ as notably fond of her bright young
son, lavishing upon ! i'm many advant-
ages that were calculated TO bring
him social favor. He moved in the
best society of that wealthy city and
became SO involved by maintaining an
unequal position in social circles that
he slipped into debt yet not so deeply
but thar he was enabled to preserve
the same bold front.
To his numerous friends Nieden-
hofen would predict for himself
brilliant future. A prophecy that was
encouraged and applauded by the
young bioods of his set. At other times
he was gloomy and doubtful and went
for advice and tonic to some of the
most prominent men Of Butte who ad-
mired the nervous young fellow
enough to pat him on the back.
WOOED MISS TALBOT.
Niedenhofen determined that a high
matrimonial alliance, was Indispensable
10 reach the goal at which he was
shooting his arrows of fortune. He
couTted many of the acknowledged
bellies of Butte and among them found
his heart was in the keeping of Miss
Talbot, the accomplished and beauti-
Iul daughter of James A. Talbot, presi-
cent OF the First National Bank of
Butte and one of the wealthiest men
of the community. The result was a
match About six weeks or two months
ago the marriage was celebrated with
much splendor at Butte, yet beneath
all of his alected gaiety on that event
full night Niedenhofen was moody and
apprehensive of impending trouble.
He whispered some of his miSgiV-
ings TO friends, but they were accus-
toned to his vagaries, and laughed
him out of counterance, but they
failed to cheer his tagging spirits.
Just as the bride and groom were
about 10 step into hack to start upon
their bridal tour. and while sur
rounded by a thrOng of well-wishing
relatives and friends, the team became
frightened by the slipping of Captain
Niedenhofens trunk, which the driver
was attempting to load upon the seat.
The baggage fell upon the backs of
he. horses and they broke the hitching
straD in a mad dash for liberty The
lines were jerked from the mans
hands. and the frightened team tore
down the street
The foreman of the Butte water
works was upon his knees examining
a damaged hydrant by lantern light
Before he realized his danger, the
team and heavy hack swept over him,
crushing his ribs and back, from which
injuries he died a few hours later.
This incident worked up a climax in
Niedenhofen's mind. Despite the fact
that the guests used every artifice to
brighten him, and in the face of his
own domestic happiness, Niedenhofen's
spirits sank, so that by the time he
grasped the last hand at parting, that
of his most intimate friend Joe Viii
l1ins. he had TO gasp: My Godl things
are coming rocky, Joe.
TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED.
II was The comment at the time
that the now dead man was terribly
djsannointed because his father-in-law
had not realized the young groom's ex-
pectations, but Mr.. Talbot did not |
choose to endow the young people then |
with any emolumentS.
a few DAYS after their departure /
wor5 cane from Chicago that Nieden-
hofen %Was in a most critical condi- |