The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-27
PEANUT" MURPHY IS DEAD
WAS FOR YEARS A FAMILIAR FIG
IRE ON THE STREETS.
sailed Around Cape Horn During
the Frat Fiush Of the Gold Ex-
citenent in Caiifornia Had

Edward Murphy. the little old peanut
vendeF whose figure has been a familiar
one On the streets and I'm variety theaters
IN Seattle for many years. died yesterday
morning AT AZ Fifth avense south OF
heart failure. His death causes the re-
movai OF what TO many people has SEEM
ed landmark In this city.
Murphy was a native OF Ireland. and
was about IS years old at the time Of
his death. AT an early age he eniigrated
to New York city. and in is4s. when the
news OF the gold discoveries In Califor-
MIA thrilled the whole world. he was one
OF the tirst TO take passage on a vessel
sailing from New York TO San Francisco
via Cape Horn.
Murphy arrived In California during
the flush OF the gold excitement and went
at mining, which he pursued with success
and failure for many years. During his
residence 10 California his lfe's romance
occurred. He became acquainted with
preachers wife; and they fell In love with
the time. and It Is said. n took little urg-
ing on his part TO induce the woman TO
eiope with him. Anyway she deserted
lived together. She died in California
prior 10 Murphys coming TO this state.
So far as known they had no children.
About bout twenty ven year. ago MURPHY broken
In a mining accident In California. prior
to his coming here. he suffered an acct
dent that manned him for Me. How
but It left him with one shoulder much
higher than the other and badly deforra-
ing him.
One Of the Accomplishments which
Murphy had picked Up during his life in
the mines was cooking. and when he came
TO Washington he followed that business
in logging camps for many gear.s .
shortly before the IRE "s,aked him to
the peanut business. and for long time
Murphy ran a stand In the Tenderloin dis
trict. For the last four years and half
he has sold peanuts every night I'm the
Orpheum theater. always being In his
place and seeming TO be almost part Of
Thomas Clancy. jr.. who knew the old
man probably better than anyone else In
Seattle. said yesterday:
Drinking was bis fault and while he
tie he would walt until ne had saved UP
sonsideras'e money ano INN sr would cone
would contract many bar bills while on
these sprees. and his first act upon sober
ing up would be 10 and out how much
ne owed. Then he would 90 back TO his
work and wait until he had saved up
enough money 10 pay all the debts he
had contracted on his last spree before
he would go or another
II never heard Murphy speak Of his
relatives and | don't believe anyone else
In Seattle ever did, I don't believe he
has any relatives livingApr. If he had.
he had ceased 10 communicate with them
long before hts death"
One Of life's unforunates himself. Muir
ply always sympath'zed with anyone
elise who had burdens to bear. and the
last few months Of his life were char
acterixeS by "a continuous act OF philan-
thropy When the Wrightson sisters. the
two r,orrhine fiends who were incarccr-
ated In the county jail for n long time,
were released he sourh. them out. and
for several months he has used his
scanty earnings In ninisterinK to their
comforts and trying to effect reform
I'm their habits. II was I'm their lodgings
that he died
Murphys body is AZ Bonney stew
arts norgua and funeral arrangements
Will be made today.