The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1904-02-27
DEATH OF HANK CRONANT.
Well Known e. & p. Agent Shoots
Himself With Fatal Results.

Eureka was startled by q telephone
message from the E. & P. depot about
IL o'clock last Saturday forenoon saying
that Hank Cronant had shot himself
and requesting that DR.. Burnett be sent
down Immediately.
The news created a profound sensa-
ton and friends fastened to the scene
to render assistance. Others, horror
stricken, were asking how it happened
and if Hank were dead. He was not
dead but wounded unto death, and it
was only a matter of hours until the
new years list of deaths and fatalities
numbered one more of Eureka's pio-
neers.
The accident occurred in the auditors
room at the passenger depot of the Eu-
reka & Palisade Railway in Eureka.
Two wounds were inflicted by a SO cali.
Der Colts revolver that was kept in the
cashiers desk. There was no one pres
emit when the shooting was done and
the particulars of the casualty will
never be fully known.
- Wounds Found to Be Fatal.
After shooting himself Mr.. Cronant
went out. on the platform and called to
John Con way. the night Waterman,
that he had shot himself and to send
for DIR. Burnett. Mr.. Conway got Her
a Bremenkampf to telephone up
town for the doctor and then walked
with the wounded man to Maurice De-
laney's house. about 100 yards from the
depot. Mr.. Cronant told Mrs. Delaney
that he had shot himself and asked if
he might lie down and rest until the
doctor arrived. He was assisted to a
bed and in a few minutes medical aid
was by his side. A hurried examina-i
ton was made and the doctor advised
that he be moved up town. A mattress
was placed in Wells-Fargo wagon and
Mr.. Cronant was brought to the Brown
Hotel. There a thorough examination
Of the wounds was made and it was
found that both bullets had entered the
left side near the heart about half an
inch apart. There was internal hemor-
rhage and it was determined that the
wounds would prove almost necessarily
fatal, and Mr.. Cronant's family at
Reno was notified by telegraph of his
serious condition.
Mrs. Cronant, with her infant daugh-
ter and eldest son. Harry, left Reno on
the flyer Saturday evening and upon
the request of Superintendent Abbott of
the Eureka g. Palisade, the train was
stopped Sunday morning at Palisade,
where Mr.. Abbott had a special in wait
ing to bring Mrs. Cronant and children
to Eureka. They arrived here a little
after 10 o'clock. Mr.. Cronant was con
scious and thought to be improved.
During the day he seemed to be sinking
and would again rally, when hope
would be revived in the sickroom at
tendants. About 8 o'clock Monday
morning the change for the worst came
and every kindly ministration that af-
lection and friendship could suggest
was bestowed upon the patient until his
sufferings were over. The end came at
9:35 o'clock Monday forenoon.
The body was removed to Hjul's
undertaking establishment, where an
autopsy was performed. IL was found
that one ball entered his left side about
two inches directly under the nipple
and passed around and lodged in the
small of the back. The fatal shot en-
tered half an inch below.and a little to
the right of the other one. broke a rib
and passed through the lower part of
the spleen and directly through the cen
ter of the kidney. All his organs were
found in a normal condition. Both bull
let's took a downward course.
Ante MOrtem Statement.
When informed by his friends Satur-
day evening that his condition was Sc
rious, Mr.. Cronant sent for Notary Pub
lie John McKernan and made the fol-
lowing deposition:
81 had been counting the money and
put the pistol ON the desk. / took
the pistol up; the left hand was on
the barrel. Have not slept any for
three or four nights thinking about
Riddles death and reading the letter
which, had from Cora about it. l had
spells come over me and at times l
couldn't think what I was about, but
after coming mp town and exercising it
would pass away. / had no intention
of committing suicide. 1t was purely
accidental; probably when I was under
one of those spells. I don't know how
the second shot went off at all. ]
- 3d. l. 4 xrv1ro G-aA