The San Francisco call., 1909-10-01
Tragic Suicide of the President
of the Mt. TamaIpais Scenic
Railway Company
Mental Depression Due TO Ill
Health Is Thought to Have
Been Cause
Body of Capitalist Found in
Garden of His Home With
Bullet Through Brain

ESPoNDENT over i'll health and
TD believing that he would never re
cover completely from the ef-
fects Of a stroke OF paralysis which he
suffered last May. Sidney B. Cushing.
president Of the Mil Valley and Mount
Tamalpais railroad and one Of the best
known citizens Of Marin county. COM
mitted suicide yesterday afternoon in
The grounds OF his summer home at
Blythedale, just out of Mil Valley.
Cushing brought his life 20 an end
with no word Of farewell to family or
business associates. except goodby
dressed. which lay by the side of his
\ body. A few hours before the body was
discovered he had chatted pleasantly
with H. ". Crothers. secretary of the
Mount Tamalpais road. and seemed to
be unusually cheerful. 1t was his fail
ure 10 return to the offices Of the COM
pany at the usual hour after a visit to
his summer home that caused Crothers
10 grow spprehensive and finally to
Secretary Finds Body
The suicide is supposed to have oc-
CURED between and o'clock. but it
was not until nearly 4 o'clock that the
body was found. Cushing left Mill Val
ley on the I1:45 mountain train for his
cottage in the BIythedale canyon, which
is at present unoccupied. 1t was his
custom after such trip to return to
Mil Valley al 1:45. but he failed TO re-
sppear. Crothers was surprised at his
failure 10 return, and after waiting an
hour set of for Blytbedale. Searching
a GROUNDS he found the body living
81 path short distance from the door
Of the summer home.
Across Cushing's breast. when Croth-
ers found the body, lay a $3.50 rifle.
snd a cane at his side gave mute evil
dence Of how he had accomplished his
end. He had placed the muzzle Of the
rine in his mouth and struck the trig-
ger Of the weapon with his cane, the
bullet boring a hole straight through
his head and out at the top Of the skull.
BY his side lay the note. written on a
scrap Of notepaper in lead pencil. 1t
read:
1t has come to this. Death is the
greatest kindness can do my family.
] am, and always viii be. burden if
live. SIDNEY B. CUSHING.
Wealthy and Popular
Gushing. who was well to do and ex-
tremely popular and prominent in busi-
ness and society circles. maintained two
homes in Marin county, one at San
Rafael and the other at Blythedale. The
family has been living recently in the
San Rafael home and it was from there
that Cushing left yesterday morning.
He said a CHEEKY farewell and gave no
hint of what he either intended then or
decided on shortly afterward.
Vice President c. +. Runyon of the
Mount Tamalpais road notified Cushings
family of the tragedy. The body was
6rst taken in charge by George Cum
mings, an undertaken. and later by
Coroner F. e. Sawyer of San Rafael
Worry Over Poor Health
There could have been no reason for
AR. Cushing's act except worry over
his physical condition, said Runyon last
hiEht. "His home life was Of the most
Veal kind and he had no business
soubles or worries. He suffered a stroke
sf paralysis on May IA of this year. but
had recovered to a great extent and
was not in a bad condition. / examined
mis- books tonight and found them TO be
perfectly correct in every way"
two children. all of whom are well
known in this city. st the time OF
he tragedy Miss Dolly Cushing, the
daughter. was lunching at Ross with
lanes Jenkins, to whom her engage
sent was recently announced. John
cushing, the son, recently graduated
rom stanford university, where he was
prominent in college activities, and
SOW occupies position with large
shipping firm in this city.
Native of This City
sidney B. Cushing WAS born in San
Francisco 50 years ago. He was the
son of DR. John Cushing. wen known
,hvsicisn. who came from Providence.
L in 1g4s, practiced in this city
and then settled in Mill Valley Cush-
ng was IL years old when his father
lied Shortly afterward he went to
chicago, where he became associated
business with A. f. Kent and laid
he foundations OF his fortune. Later
te returned to San Rafael, where, in
sss he married the daughter of j. A.
EIbridge.
cushing was a member OF the Bo-
,epaian club. the San Rafael country
o. and numerous other organizations.
inquest was held in Mill Valley