The San Francisco call., 1898-04-25
HELENA STACKS
 TRAGIC DEATH SpeculatiOn as to Whether It Was Accidental or
 Suicidal. The Deceased Was a Bright and Ambitious Student at the
 State University.

BERKELEY, April 24.-The body of Miss Helena Stack. the young woman who met death yesterday in the waters or the bay near Tiburon, was to-day brought to the Stack residence. 2601 Dur ant avenue, Berkeley. The members of the family are prostrated by the shock of the tragic and sudden death of the un- fortunate young lady.
 Considerable mystery surrounds the death of the young lady She had been Tor some time a sufferer from Ill health, and in addition was very hard student. She was a member of the junior class of the State University in the college of letters and a hard worker. It is believed by some that i'll health and overstudy drove her temporarily insane, and that in a lit Of mental alteration she sought her own destruction. The college work in the classical course, which she was pur- suing, is considered particularly difficult and the approaching annual examinations may have caused the unfortunate student to tax her mental powers beyond their limit.
 For the past three weeks, however, Miss Stack had been forced, on account of Ill health, to take a vacation and tenn porar1ly to abandon her college work She had been advised to take trips Occa- sionally into the country, and it is be- lieVed that she started for Tiburon yes terday on an outing for her health. Whether she was suddenly seized with suicidal mania after she started to row from Tiburon to Belvedere, or whether she was suddenly seized with sickness and fell accidentally into the water is uncertain The fact that the body was found floating within five minutes after the young lady disappeared beneath the water lends some support to the theory that she was unconscious when she fell into the water.
 The unfortunate vOuDC st11dapt particularly bright in her studies. In 1891 she graduated with honors from the Va lencia, nov the Horace Mann Grammar lar distinction from the Girls High School four years later. She was ambi- tious to graduate from the university next year with the degree of bachelor of arts. Both she and her sister, Miss Katherine Stack, who was taking the their college work. 1t was principally for some time since, from their former resi- dence, 20 Hill street, San Francisco, to the university town.
 Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been definitely made The members of the junior class at the university will probably meet tomorrow to pass resolu- tions of regret and condolence upon the death of their classmate
 SAN RAFAEL. April A.-A jury was tmpaneled by Coroner Eden this morn Ing to inquire into the cause of the death of Helena Stack, who was drowned near Tiburon yesterday.
 The most important evidence given was by r. de Sella, the boatman who rented the girl the boat. He said that she got 1t about 1:15 p. Tn., telling him she knew how to handle one, and then asking that extra cushions be put in as she would meet party at Belvedere. She appeared cheerful, and started to row away in good spirits. The discovery of the body and the boat has already been recounted
 After some discussion the jury decided that Miss Stack came to her death by accidental drowning. The father was present at the inquest, and left for Berke- ley with the remains at II a. m. The only testimony the father gave of any importance was that he did not know the girl intended to leave home for Bel vedere at all.