The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-14

as many are sacrificed TO cold and
freezing as to starvation and priva.
ton Is probably due to the fact that
tho former GLASS OF 5,infortunates arc
largely persons who have become lost 4
In winter storms or subjected to ir-
tense cold by other causes than t1l-s
ability to purchase fuel.
This interesting Information has been
collected for us by Or. Greasy L Will
bur. chief OF the Office OF vital stats
tics IN the census bureau. Besides be-ss
Ing medical man he rs skilled sta
itistlcian, and was chief Of tho Michl-
gan state bureau OF vital statistics be
fore coming to Washington to suc-si
iceed the late Henry King. an indef-
Satigable genius who for many years
collected data OF deaths and disease
for the census Office
Suicide Causes. Most Violent Deaths.
Suicide Is discovered by Dr.. Wilbur
to now be Our chief source OF violent
death, filing many more graves than
even the locomotive and about as many
as fire and water acting together.
In each 100000 OF us eighteen and a
half persons are annually taking their
own lives. where only thirteen and 81
half are killed on the railroads. We ares
having nearly twice as many suicides.
us accidental drownings and consid- I
erably over twice as many are taking
their own lives as arc sacrificed to
fire.
Poison is the favorite means OF
suicide in our country. while shoot
ing Is an extremely close second.
either Of these means claiming moro
than twice as many victims as hang.
ing, while the next greatest nuubers
take gas, and considerably fewer stflls
use the knife. Very nearly as many
drown themselves as cut themselves
to death, the number OF those jump
Ing overheard being one OF us In
10000. Less than a third Of this pro-
portion commit suicide by jumping
while the least number OF all-onlys
one in 100000 OF us--ning them!
selves In front OF trains or elect ia.
have themselves otherwise crushed to.
death. Z q a. a
Our woman suicides prefer poison
to any other agency OF self obstruction,
while men prefer shooting. according
to Prof. VILLAIN B. Bailey, OF Yale
who has been going deep into trig
subject. The suicide age OF women
IS younger than that of men, he finds.
and the favorite day Of the week FOR
males to take their own lives is Mon i
day. following the usual period OF
debauch lasting over Saturday niehtS
and Sunday. Our woman suicides. on
the other hand. prefer Sunday. when.
the family Is together for tho day.
giving greater opportunity for quar-
rels especially as the husband is then
more liable to be intoxicated. Quite
tribute indeed. to the American.
Sabbath, but one which is DOUBTLESS
deserved. 81 Is
Almost third as many OF us are
killed by murderers and other homi-
cides as by infilicting death upon our
selves. and our chances lof being thus
slain by others arc nearly twice as
lgreat as those OF being killed by
trolley cars. gas or poison. Mere than
three times as many Of us are victims
Of homicides as OF accidental shooting
Nearly seven In each 100000 OF u.
die from murder or homicide IN a
year.
Summing up all OF your dangers,
from DR. Wilbur's figures, you are
more than thirteen 4 times as liable
TO be killed by disease as by violent
death, and vet nearly four times more
likely to die e violent death than to
waste away from old age. .ss 9ssa
Copyright. 1910, al by John Elfreth
Watkins:)