The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28
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SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 27.-The Pacinc MAIL
steamship Gaelic, which arrived from honolulu
to-uay, brings an interesting story eoout "aiter
j. mcbride, paying teller OF Bishop q Co.'S bank
and d young society man, who has become In
sane, 1t is said, through drawing the fatal
number In q suicide club which no loined
about six years ago In Seattle Accord
ing to tho story Mcbride received mis- sum
mons about a year ago and wss doomed 70 axe
hislite this month, following In the tootseeps Oh
nve other members Of the club.
A letter giving some facts In the case has
been received by friends Of Mcbride residing In
this city. Mcbride drew the fatal number, out
had twelve Llonths In which to XIII him'
self. The matter weighed so heavily on his
mind that his reason became unbalanced ana
through his strange actions and nightly rawlings
his friends learned the truth. He is being cared
for by friends in Honolulu, who propose to see
that he does not carry out his purpose. Within
q few weeks he will DO brought to this city In
the hope that q change of air may do him good.
Mcbride is only about 80 years OF age, but
during the Seattle boom In the carly part OF this
decade he is said to have made $50. 900. every
dollar OF which he lost when the bottom fell out
OF the boom. A dozen young men Of his set
shared tho same i'll fortune, and while drowning
their troubles In wine ono night they decided
that life was not worth living. Some one sug-
COATED a suicide club, and the idea was adopted.
The club was formed, and each OF the thirteen
members took q solemn oath to follow out Its
object. Lots were drawn that night. and within
twenty.four hours thereafter ono member was
dead by his own hand.
Since then other members have felt In honor
bound to Keep their oHths, and each year q VIC
tim has succumbed until five have been laid
away. In not one instance was the real motive
OF the suicide discovered. Ono of the victims
WIS Howard Cranston Potter. whose body was
found on the sands below the Cliff House In
san francisco a year ago.
he is z native. about four years ago, and secured
q position in Bishop & Co.'s bank. where he rose
to paying teller. He made considerable money
in sugar stock, and was again on the high road
That was a year ago. but through the unanimous
ACTION of the surviving. members Of the club.
Mcbride had a years time. but this month no
was TO commit suicide.
motive Tor his intended suicide. He disposed Of
all the sugar stocks and real estate he owned,
converting them into cash and placing the
money in bank. He then made his will. leav-
ing his personal belongings among his friends
IA the bank: He had already secured q vaca-
ton, and IL 10 said his intention was to go to the
island Of Kauai. whore his brother owns q
end Of which time he proposed to die as quietly
az possible, leaving, the Impression that drink
had caused his death.
A friend In the bank learned his secret, and no
was removed to the house Of q relative, where
connected In Honolulu. He 10 q brother-in-law
Of W. A. Kinney, q leading lawyer OF Honolulu.
and recent Special Commissioner to Washing
ton In the interest OF annexation. He 10 also re.
lated BY marriage to Paul Isenberg. tho sugar