Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-02-23
A LOCAL HORROR.
The Tragic Fate Of One of Olympia's Well
known Madsns

Our community was inexpressibly
shocked last Saturday morning bv the
information that Miss Essie Cullen, a
daughter of one OF our oldest and
most respected citizens, had been
missing from home for many hours
and that grave apprehenSions existed
for her safety. 1t seems that Miss C.
had been living with her sister, Mrs.
Shazer, and as she had left home
with the intention Of visiting her
father on Eastside, it very naturally
resulted that very little uneasiness
was aroused by her absence. On Sat
urday morning, however, when it was
ascertained that she had LETT her
father on Thursday evening, and the
house of a neighbor the same night, to
take part in a rehearsal at St. Johns
church, and that after that time no
body had seen her, it was at once re-
allied that something terrible had
happened to the young woman.
The first thought was to make
search in the neighborhood of her
home, in the hope that she might
possibly he found with some of her
many girl associates, and as this
failed, the inquiry gradually turned
to the highway and the arm of the
bay over which she would probably
have passed by way of the Eighth
street bridge. About eleven O'Clock
an object was discovered by aid of a
glass which seemed to be the body of
a person, on the flats about hundred
yards from the bridge, and when Mr..
Savage, one OF the searchers, had wad.
ed out to the object it WAS found to be
the body of the unfortunate girl, lying
on the face and partially covered with
mud. The body was Immediately
taken to the undertaking establish
ment Of the Bates Brothers.
On Saturday afternoon, q jury con-
sisting of c. II. Pridham, Chas. S.
Wilcox, J. Ii. Whelpey, l.. G. Abbott,
ID. II. Barry and +. Il. Young, was
empanneled by Coroner Hartsock,
and an investigation began which was
continued at intervals for several days
up to the day of burial, Tuesday, but
nothing was ELECTED to change the
verdict prepared at their first meeting
that Essie Cullen came to her death
by drowning, but that whether it was
by accident or intentional, they could
not determine.
Nobody who knew the girl believes
that her death was that of a suicide.
Her temperament and disposition for
bid such belief. She possessed a
happy, contented mind, and when en-
gagged i'll any special work, as she was
when preparing for the church enter
tainment in contemplation, she pos
sessed an enthusiasm which left no
place for dependency which proceeds
self-imnolation. That she was foully
dealt with, finds even less believers, for
it is not known that she has an enemy
in the world, and the absence of mo.
tive would seem to close the door to |
that supposition.
1t is far more probable that her
death is attributable solely to accident.
She was subject at times to feinting
spells, and it is barely possible that
one of these came on at time when,
with the slippery nature of the road
way, she fell and slid or rolled into |
into the bay. This at least is the
most probable solution of the mystery,
and is to some degree sustained by the |
testimony of Wilbur Mcmillan, a resi-
dent Mt Eastside and Ninth streets,
who started from his home Thursday |
evening to attend prayer meeting,
which fixes both date and time quite |
positively, and conforms to other |
circumstantial details. He saw Miss
Cullen shortly after Z o'clock, while
he was passing the old laundry build. |
ing. She was coming rs if from the
residence of Geo. E. Blankenship
(Which surmise was true.) He says
she turned down Eighth street and
passed onward towards the bridge.
He stepped aside moment-not to
exceed, he says. two minutes-and
when he renewed his journey, Miss
Cullen could nowhere be seen. She
might have passed on in the time he
was delayed. He declares, however.
that he saw two human forms on the
bridge, the proverbial "long and short
man." but thought nothing of the
matter. They were just leaving the
bridge and going towards the railroad
track.
George Lawton, a young man living
on the railroad track on Eighth street,
declares that tall woman, wearing
turban hat and dark veil, whom he
took to be the deceased, called at his
residence on Friday night, and in
quired the time Of day. 1t was just
7:15, and of course her request fixed
the hour OH his memory, and the snow
and sleet on the ground seems to sub
stantiate his statement Of the night.
1t is probable, however, that his iden-
LITIGATION is at fault, although no un-
known lady has yet appeared to
straighten out the labyrinth of doubt.
The funeral rites of deceased took
place Tuesday at 2P. NJ. in st Johns
church, before large and sympathetic
congregation. Many floral offerings
testified to love borne for her in life.
The Rebecca Degree Lodge, /. o. o. F.,
of which she was q member, attended
as body and took part in the cere-
monies at the grave. The pall-bearers
were members OF the Typographical
Union, of which likewise she was an
honored member. They we're H. L.
Ready, Chas. E. Orange, Frank MUIR
ply, L. Van Osdell, s. Rowell and
Frank Reisenweber.
Essie Cullen was born in Lewis
county, 80 years ago. Early in the
Sos she came with her fathers family
to this city, where she had since resid-
ed, except when employed at her trade
in other places. Shortly after she
came to Olympia she began an ap-
premiership at typesetting in the Of
flee OF the STANDARD, which extended
over about two years. She was indus
trious and faithful. She possessed a
genial nature, a happy disposition, and
was loved and respected by all who
knew her. She worked for time, q
few years ago, in a printing Office at
Kelso, and another at Aberdeen. Her
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