The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-05
LITERARY FAILURE KILLED.
Disappointment Too Much for Califor-
MIA Writer to Bear.
ON the San Francisco Chronicle.

FROM the san francisco Chronicle
Realizing that the one great ambition
Of his life was impossible of accomplish
ment, Cameron A Owens locked himself
in a room in the Occidental hotel Friday
night, stuffed cotton about the edges of
the uoor, and turned on the gas. A few
minutes before O'Clock yesterday morn
ing the odor of escaping gas was detected
by the night Waterman of the hotel, the
door was broken down. and Owens life
less body was found lying on the bed
Twenty-Five years of age, giving the
best that was in him during daylight
hours to a business that seemed to him
prosaic, Cameron Owens had for several
years been vainly endeavoring to win
name and fame for himself in the world
of literature. Frequently he worked at
his home until night gave way before the
advancing hosts of daylight, wooing the
muse, and vainly striving to put into his
work that which men call genius, and for
which publishers gladly pay money.
Two years ago Owens secured the posi-
ton of dramatic critic on the News Let
ter holding that post for about two
months. At the end of that time he was
released and in all kindness told that
his work was not up to the standard re-
quired. Then he poured out the story OF
his ambition to write and make his name
famous He was told that he lacked
many OF Ile QudilIicullOIl5 lIldi are HettS-
sary to a literary success. and advised Ia
a friendly way not to strive for that
which seemed 50 utterly beyond his abil-
ity. But he stroye on.
OF late his duties as assistant cashier
in the jewelry house of w. X. Van
derslce e. Co. had been more than usual
ly arduous because of the holiday sea-
son Yet he spent night after night in
writing at his home. wearing down na-
ft,r Iu constitution To the mint of
exhaustion. Then, thoroughly worn
out, there came back to him rejected
manuscripts. Stories he had counted
upon to win favor were returned by pub
fishers who found them short of their
standards OF excellence, and Owens,
heart-sick and wearied of 1t all, deter
mined to put an end to the life that was
already despoiled by unrealized ambition.
At noon on Friday he left the home of
his parents, at 2el4 Fillmore street, APP
parently in good health and spirits. Later
in the day he left the store where he
was employed. having uttered no plant.
Early in the evening he went to the Ocei-
dental hotel, where he registered as &C.
A. Bishop. Honolulu" and was assigned
to room Sol on the top floor
Once IN the room. owens disrobed, and
then. with the burnt ends of matches. he
traced on one of the hotel towels these
words And I burned my bridges behind
me-" That done, he stuffed cotton about
the edges Of the door, turned on the gas
cocks, and went to his bed and to his last
sleep.
Before daylight this morning Night
Waterman Russell detected the odor of
escaping gas traced 1t to room 3Ol, and
opened the transom above the door. Look
ing in, he saw Owens body lying In q
natural position on the bed Calling as
sistance, Russell broke into the room A
physician was Immediately summoned
and the latters examinations made it APP
parent that death had come some hours
before.
owens left no message beyond that
traced on the towel. A few cents. a
watch chain and a pair of gold cuff but
tons constituted all the valuables found
on his person or clothing and all these
were turned over to Craig owens. his
only brother. His father and mother, Mr..
and Mrs Peter Owens, are both living.
They thought him happy and contented.
and the grief-stricken mother could not
believe the fearful news when 1t was
broken to her Yesterday They knew of
his work and Of his ambition. but he had
carefully hidden from them all knowledge
of the experience with defeat that In
enired his suicide.