The San Francisco call., 1897-06-11
HAD MADE Up HIS
MIND TO DIE
Ex- Purser Hiram K. Rog-
ers Of the Corona
Jumps Overheard.
Left a Note for the Captain OF
the Santa Rosa Stating
His Intentions.
When the Vessel Reached Port Har,
ford There Was No Trace Of
the Missing M7n.

Hiram K. Rogers, ex-purser of the Pa
cific Coast Steamship Company steamers
Queen, Santa Rosa and Corona, is sup
posed to have committed suicide while
the Santa Rosa was on her way down to
San Diego last Wednesday night. When
the vessel reached Port Hartford Rogers
was missing and Captain Alexander at
once ordered a search made. There was
no trace of the missing man until the pur-
ser's room was reached. There a note ad-
dressed to Captain Alexander was found
stating that the writer (H. K. Rogers) had
iumpe overheard. Another search of the
steamer was made and messengers were
sent to the hotel at Port Hartford to see If
any news of the missing man could be OBJ
tanned, but nothing was forthcoming.
Again and again was the Santa Rosa
searched and the telegraph wire was kept
busy along the line from Port Hartford to
San Luis Obispo, but no news of the miss
ing man could be obtained. Then the
agent of the com pany, acting under Cap
tain Alexander's instructions, telegTaphed
Edwin GoodalI of the disaster.
Hiram K. Rogers had been in the en-
ploy of the Pacific Coast Steamship Com
pany for nearly twenty years. He was
one of the most trusted men in the service
of the concern. He was a man over so
years OF age and had seen many vicissi-
tudes. One day he was wealthy and the
next he was 'as poor as a church mouse"
One day he and his wife were living in
peace aud happiness and the next he was
trying to put her in madhouse. Through
out it all Rogers preserved an even front
and while he was anything but sociable,
still he did his work in a creditable man
ner and made some friends.
Whop ba taFt ba 81 Ao1I
Perkins Co., some six months ago, it
was of his own accord. According to the
stories told on Broadway wharf he had
won something like $4,000 on the races,
and when the steamship people informed
him that he would have 10 perform
freight clerks duties on the dock as we'll
as purser's work on the ship while in
port he rendered his resignation, which
was promptly accepted.
His money went es 1t came. 1t was
easily won and easily lost. Then Rogers
went back to the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company and asked for another berth. He
could not get his old ship, but as the
Queen was being fitted out Tor the Alaska
excursion season, he thought he might get
his old berth on her. He had LETT the
company, however, when times were bad
and retrenchment made it necessary to
demand a little extra work from each en-
ploye, so no notice was taken OF his ap-
peal. 1Heu ne appIleu LOT ITee passage
to San Diego, which was readily given
him.
According to the telegram received by
Goodall, Perkins & Co. Rogers was we'll
and in good spirits up TO the time of retir-
ing last Wednesday night. In the morn
ing, when the Santa Rosa docked at Port
Hartford (about 4 A. NJ. }, the unfortunate
ex-purser was missing.
Several years ago Mr. Rogers had con-
sidera bic trouble with his wife. He
brought her before the Lunacy Commls-
sioners and tried to have her put in a
lunatic asylum. She easily proved her
sanity, however, and was released. Two
or three years ago they agreed to let by
cones be bygones and once more went to
housekeeping. a child was born to them
about two years ago, and since that time
heir home has been a most happy one.
The races proved his undoiug, however.
He made one winnin, and thought. he
could "beat the game right along. He
failed, and the episode on the Santa Rosa
gives the finale of the story