The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1901-10-24
WASHINGTON. THURSDAY, OCT. "a, 1901. NO. ~
COMMITS SUICIDE.
Fred 7. Brisss Shoots Himself At spansIe.
Washington.

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| Word of the suicide Of Fred T. Briggs
at Spangle, Washington, on Tuesday
morning came as shock to the people
Of this city as he was well known here
and had many friends. For five or six
years he was day operator and when the
Spanish war broke out he resigned and
went to the Philippines. The following
particulars of the shooting and deceased
is from the Spokesman Review under a
Spangle date line of Oct. %:
"a shocking suicide occurred at S:15
o'clock Tuesday morning, when Fred
erick 7. Briggs, Northern Pacifi station
agent at this place, blew out his brains
by placing the muzzle OF "A calibre re-
volver in his mouth and pulling the trig-
ger. The ball passed through the head,
making its exit at the top of the skull.
Death was instantaneous. The deed was
committed near the house in which
Briggs had lived.
"The suicide is supposed to be due to
temporary insanity caused by suffering
from sciatic rheumatism. Briggs had
acted queerly for several days and his
actions had excited the suspicious of his
friends that his mind was not right. His
wife had been watching him for several
days, fearful that he might attempt sui
eide. When she heard the shot this
morning she rushed from the house to
find the body OF her husband lying with
the feet near the coal shed and the head,
terribly mutilated, lying on the rail be-
tween the trucks OF a freight car. Life
was extinct.
"The suicide was "A years old and
leaves widow, two sons and two daugh-
tiers, the eldest daughter being 16 years
old and the youngest being girl Of 4
years. His domestic relations were hap
Ply, and SO far as known his accounts
were straight. He was married IS years
ago to Miss Wade, daughter of A. D.
Wade, now member of the city council
of Palouse. Mr. and Mrs. Wade and
brother of Mrs. Briggs were notified by
telephone and arrived at II: 20 O'Clock
and are with the stricken widow, who is
Frustrated by the shock.
Frederick 7. Briggs was a soldier and
pioneer telegraph operator of this
country, having served as operator here
when the government had telegraph
line connecting Forts Walla Walla and
Sherman, and before Spokane was found
ed. He was then soldier in the regu-
lar army. When the Philippine war
broke out he was working for the North
ern Pacific at North Yakima and resign
ed and joined Company f, First Wash
ington volunteers. He was made first
lieutenant and served with distinction
until the regiment was mustard out,
when he returned to the service of the
railroad company He had been in
Spangle nearly two years, having been
station agent during that time. He was
genial and made many warm friends,
and his tragic death was terrible shock
to the community.
"Mr. Briggs was member of the Wood
men of the World, the Women of Wood
craft and the Knights of the Maccabees
and carried life insurance in each order.
He was also member of the Knights of
Pythias. The funeral will be held here
tomorrow under the auspices of the
Woodmen of the World, assisted by the
other orders.
Coroner Baker was notified and ar
rived on the 10 80 train from Spokane,
but decided an inquest was unnecessary
and returned to Spokane at - 20. The
operator from Plaza came up and took
temporary charge of the station The
family has resided in neat cottage
near the depot, built by the railroad
company for the station agent, and it
was near this the suicide occurred. The
scene was visited by several hundred !
citizens and farmers, the affair causing
more excitement than Spangle has
known for many years.
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