The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-28
ETERMINED To DIE
CHAZED BY ABsINTHE CHARLES A..
BUSH ENDED HIS UNHAPPY LIFE.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE HERE.
WHERE HE SHOT HIMSELF
YESTERDAY.

Had Been Employed as n StenoGra-
sengcr Agent Halle of the Central
Resigned His Position and Jump
ed Into the savannah River From
$. A. L. Bridge Three Days Before
Christmas-Absinthc Drinking and
other IndiScreet Acts Made Him n
Physical and Mental Wreck-Was
Treated at Park View Sanitarium
Before He Was Sent Home-StOry
of the Suicide.
A slave to absinthe, and a physical
and mental wreck Charles A. Bush, a
young man well known in Savannah
and who attempted suicide here last
Christmas week, killed himself at his
mothers home in Augusta yesterday.
He sent a bullet through his brain and
ended his unhappy life.
Bush attempted to end his life in
Savannah the Sunday, before Christ
mas by jumping into the Savannah
river from the Seaboard Air Line
bridge. He had been employed as a
stenographer in the office of General
Passenger Agent Halle of the Central
Railway and was well known in the
railroad offices. For some reason he
rendered his resignation and q day or
two afterwards determined upon sui
eide.
He had stated his intention of spend
ing the Christmas holidays at home
but upon the receipt of a letter from
hi IL. IL
plunged into the river. He was res
cued by a Waterman who had wit
messed the act.
Bush was well educated, and nat
urslly bright, and made many friends
during his stay in this city. He made
mistakes in his way of living, and his
acts We're not such as bring happiness.
The drinking of absinthe was probe
bly, his greatest weakness, although he
had others.
After his futile effort to drown him
self Bush was in a state bordering on
collapse and had to be carefully
watched at his boarding house on Pres
!dent street. until the arrival of a
brother from Augusta. His condition
became such as to make il necessary
for his physician to move him to the
Park View Sanitarium, where he was
under treatment for a week or two.
He regained some of his lost vitality
and when he returned to his home il,
was believed that he was on a fair
ruaI to recovery.
The story of Bush's suicide in his
native city is given in the following
disLatch to the Morning News:
Augusta, Feb. 27.-Chas. A. Bush,
was found dead in bed few minutes
before 9 O'Clock this morning A re-
volver clincEed in his right hand and
conspicuous bullet hole in his fore
head clearly bespoke suicide. Bush
was about 81 years of age. He has al
WAYS been well known and we'll liked
here and in other cities. He was noted
for his always neat appearance and
gentlemanly manner. For some years
he was stenograDher in the office
of Messrs. Joseph B. and Bryan Cum
ming, but for several months previous
to six weeks ago he resided in Savan-
nah. Six weeks ago he returned from
there. somewhat broken in health
Since that time he has been staying
with his mother, Mrs. Ellen J. Bush
at 222 Greene street. He went to bed
early last night and showed no signs
of unusual dependency This morn
ing he failed to rise at his usual hour.
The room was entered and the young
man was found dead on the bed.
Though Mr.. Bush was known as a
young man of somewhat eccentric dis
position, his courtesy and his constant
regard for the comfort of others en-
deared him to many who will be grieved
at his untimely end. He leaves a
number of relatives, among whom are
his brother, w. e. Bush, his mother,
Mrs. Ellen J. Bush. and his sister,
Mrs. John j. Evans, Mrs. Bait of
Florida and Miss Stevie Bush
DR.. Morgan, after examining the
body gave it as his opinion that no
inquest would be necessary, and none
was held. The body was cold when the
examination was made, and the exact
time that the young man had been
dead could not be told. DR.. Morgan IS
sure that the act had been committed
several hours before the body was
found. In all probability Bush went to
bed about 10 o'clock. He probably lay
awake for several hours brooding over
his troubles. The revolver must have
been fired about midnight or after. 1t
was after the other members of the
family had retired and were wrapped
in slumber, for no one heard the report
of the pistol. The funeral will take
place Tomorrow