The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-22

10 az accident last September while horse
back riding in Virginia.
This morning she was unusually bright
and cheerful. Shortly before io oclock sAs
dressed 10 so down stairs. but instead Of
descending went 10 "a rear room of the
third story. from which sae sprang sus-
tanning injuries wAlea caused he- death.
Her death Was reported 10 police head
quarters as d case % suicide, due TO rusi-
anchol!a ard temporary aberrAtioa of
mind az result cf long Illness.
Miss Herbert WAS the oldest OF ex-Sec-
retary Heroert's three children, and xas
charming figure in Washington society.
Socially she was exceedingly popular. and
her presence WAS sought al ali GATHERINGS
Her social trsamphs here We're repeated
in Europe. where she went TO attend the
great naval demonstration ar kiei With
Ing the past year size has not enjoyed
robust health. bat this only induced her
TO redoGbie her devotion 10 out-of-door
sports and exercises, and Il was while re-
gaining her health by outdoor airing that
she net The accident that indirectly re-
suited In her death.
The coroner returned a verdict Of su.ci5a
through temporary insanity. As the facts
were clear. he decided that an inquest was
unnecessary.
This afternoon the following authorized
statement WAS made by . gentleman "a
miiiar with all the facts:
Miss Herbert. at the time OF The oc-
carreaee. was suffering from acute neian-
cholia. II developed several weeks ago
as the result Of being thrown from her
horse last September.
The melancAoiia was not insanity in
the sense os being accompanied by delu-
sions. Al the time there was profound de-
preston As Is always the case in this
disease. there was danger taat suicidal
tendencies would develop.
For This reason. nurses were provided
TO maintain the closest warchfulneSs- No
suicidal tendency developed. however, IN
I'll yesterday. when Tor the first time. Miss
Herbert made an attempt 10 get out of
the window. but was Restrained by the
nurse. This led 20 additional caution, and
two nurses altErnased IN constant watch
.glness. She was a. all times rational
quiet and gentle. and * WAS supposed ths
disease would ytsld "a treatment.
Early this morning. the nurse OF duty
notEced a small spot of blood on the bed
coverings. She inquired what il meant,
bat the invalid endeayoFed 20 pass Il by
lightly. On making investigation, how
ever. the nurse found that the under bad
clothes were saturated with blood. and
that Mss Herbert had severed the artery
Of her wrist with pair of scissors. Feel
ing that the emergency was great. ths
nurse hasisaed 10 the door ana gave an
alarm
In this tnomen;ary withdrawal from
the bedside Miss Herbert lea pea cut and
sprang fruTn tne window. The plunge was
made head foremost, 50 that she lighted
on tha ssr at her head OF the pavement.
This alone was sufficient 70 have caused
her death from conclusion OF the brain,
and Et was doubtless the immediate cause.
A cnrxo~y examination showed that tha
skull was fractured. The seyerinr ~ ths
artery also would have resulted fatally.
When the physician reached her. Mis- Her
ert was stIll breathing. but died abou. an
hou- after her Leap"
Ex-Secretary Herbert reached Washing
Ton a. % o'csoek tonight, having been On
his way from Alabama 10 spend the
Christmas with his family when the news
ot his daughters death me; him on tbs
tratn.
The funeral viii bs held tomorrow ard
the remains viii he taken ~ Montgomery.
Ala. for burial beside Miss Hsrbert's
mother.