Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-05-07
ANOTHER MAN SUICIDES
WHILE MENTALLY UNBALANCED
Gunder Hanson, Of This City, Cuts
His Throat From Ear to Ear,
While Out Of His Head.

An hour or SO after the Publ l. lie
Opini had been delivered to the
postoffice last Wednesday noon, the
news that Gunder Hanson, web
known resident of the Fourth Ward,
had committed suicide, shocked the
people of the city. He had been very
i'll for several months, and demanded
the constant care of his family. At
times the pain was so excruciating
that he was unconscious in his agony.
On this afternoon his daughters we're
away from the home attending to
some other matters, and one of his
bad spells came on. Raging with
pain, he arose from his bed, struck
his wife severe blow in the breast
crawled up stairs ON his hands and
knees, secured razor, and coming
down again attacked his wife second
time, but she got away from him and
rushed out into the yard, when he cut
his throat from ear to ear. The
screams of Mrs. Hanson attracted her
daughter and neighbors from across
the street. who called physician at
once, but Mr.. Hanson was out of his
suffering, beyond human aid.
Mrs. Hanson has been very low since
the sad tragedy, and for some time
fears for her recovery were entertain
ed, but she is improving at this writ
ing
Gunder Hanson was born Feb. 10Th
1885, at Shean, Norway. When .
young man, after much religious strug-
gle, he passed out of mere formal
belief in Christ into living expert
ence of Christian salvation. For twen-
ty years he sailed the sea, touching
during that time many ports of distant
lands, India, China, South America.
etc. At the close Of this sea service
he became local preacher in the Me-
thodist Episcopal church and did city
work in New York City
and Boston for q number of years.
Sept 10, 1874, he was married at
Boston, Mass. to Miss Nettie Nelson.
Two daughters and one son were born
to the union, He came to Iowa three
years ago, settling at Freeport where
he remained two years. He then re-
moved to a farm near Washington
Prairie. His wife died March 18, 1890.
He came to Decorah in 1891. He was
to Mrs. Lena Nelson in De-
corah, Nov. II, 1898.
Mr.. Hanson has been gradually fail
ing in health in recent years A man
of great industry and courage he tried
to fight back the disease by giving
to hard physical labor. Many
were deeply moved to see the feeble
old man toll SO much and yet SO cheer
fully. For the past six months the
disease had steadily gained mastery
over him. For four months his pain
had been so intense that he has not
been permitted to lie in his bed. I'm
told agony was his, constantly. At
different times he has said to those cal
ling upon him: 81 have not had .
wink Of sleep for 36 hours" Fre-
quently this accumulated pain has
born heavily upon his tired mind
crushing his rational powers for short
periods of time. Wednesday, April 80
at 2 O'Clock his mind gave away COM
pletely beneath its burden and he pas
sed out of his suffering in intense but
we believe irresponsible tragedy.
The funeral services were held from
the home ON Mechanic street Thursday
afternoon, Rev. XIV. Robbins officiat-
ing, interment at Freeport.