The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-01
Body Badly Deoomposed Floating
in Lake Washington.
STRONG EVIDENCE OF SUICIDE.
Black Cape Tied Around Her Waist.
Keep the Body Inder Water-Dis-
covered by a Hoy-No other Marks
bard and Pair OF SPectacles.

The body Of the woman in black" who
disappeared from Bartiett's boathouse. at
Madison park. Monday afternoon. July ..
was found yesterday afternoon at O'clock
in two feet Of water. at the head Of
peninsula sha, iuts out from q bridge On
the Renton avenue line.
1t will he almost impossible TO Identify
her from the features, az decomposition
has already reached an advanced stage. so
much 50 in fact that Deputy Coroner Van
den is inclined to think that q mistake has
been made in the number OF days missing.
The only clues 10 the unfortunate wo-
mans identity consist OF a pistol sca5-
bard, on the plate OF which appears The
following:
IT. /. Peabody"
In satin bag she had the following:
One pair of goId-rmmed spectacles. pur-
chased in Chicago.
II Is possible that It is Mrs. L. I. Pea
body OF - who ended a fit OF
blues by suicide in Lake Washington. That
she took her life there is not the slightest
doubt. Her black cape was found tied
around her waist. Each end Of IL was
filed with rocks to keep her body under
water. The sadness noticed by the people
at Madison park was the sadness incident
TO a determination 10 end an existence.
Why did this woman, who was we'll
dressed and bore the marks of refinement
steal away and end her life? The question
may never be answered. Some light may
be thrown on the case today when Coro-
ner Yandell makes an official examination
OF the body and when the facts already
discovered become public property. The
body now lies at Butterworth's undertake
ing rooms and an a strong effort viii be
made to clear UP the mystery.
1t was at o'clock yesterday afternoon
that boy rowing 81 boat along Lake
Washington's shore at the head OF the
peninsula which juts out from the bridge
that crosses an inlet not far from Colu,r.-
b3a. saw a black object. On closer OBJ
servation he discovered that it was the
form OK a woman. He Immediately went
to Columbia and sent word to Coroner
Yandell Deputy c. h. Yandell and Under
taker Bert Butterworth chartered the
steamer Haas az Leschi park and started
out in search Of the body. AT o'clock
they found il. There was only two feet Of
water at the spot, 50 the question arises
whether the body has been shifted about
by the action OF the waves The rowboat
IN which the woman left Bartlett's boat
house was not found. If the woman lump
ed out Of the boat ii would naturally float
away. but II seems strange that no one has
picked IL up before this If she pulled the
ooat up on the shore near where her hodv
was found Ii may be there yet. Owing 10
the lateness OF the hour. the search for
the missing craft was not as thorough as
1t might have been.
As the body was in an advanced stage
or decomposition. which may be explained
by the unusual heat OF the past few DAYS
or mistake in the date OF the disappear
ance. Il had to BE handled with great care.
II had the deck of the steamer to itself.
Al 1899 O'Clock the remains were deposited
at Bu;terworths Undertaking rooms Fur
;her examination viii not be rnade until
today:
Deputy Coroner Yaudell when seen ,ast
night said; 1T is going to he a VERY diff
CUT matter TO discover the identity of this
woman by her features because they ara T.,
4 pad condl;on. From her general appear
ahce. ihink am safe in saying tina; she
was woman Of refinement Her ciothos
were black from head to foot. Around her
waist was brown belt. attached to whlc,,
was an empty pistol case On this easa
was small plate with the name TT
feaoody- In a satin handbag she had n
pair or gold-rimmed spectaeles purchase,
IN Chicaso- and single Decent piece.
Size had taken her cape and tied Il
.rouha her waist with rocks wrapped up
10 hold her down on the bottom of tn,
FAKE II looks II me as If she used every,
eHort possible 10 keep her identity 4 scorer
Size was large woman ; feet 10 or II
eleven inches. She would weigh between
2H ana - pounds. She wore No. 81 shoes
WITH black tops. She was about 60 years
old and had gray hair"