The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-02-08
". ]. TONnKs TRAGIC END
Further Particulars and Causes
That Led Up to Former Eu-
rekan Committing Suicide

The following additional particulars
Of the suicide in San Francisco on Jan.
30 Of Walter J.. Tonkin, o former Eureka
resident whose death was announced In
last weeks SENTINEL. are taken from
the Post and Bulletin Of the former city:
"Despoudent because Of business re-
verses which had cost him many thous-
ands Of dollars. Walter J. Tonkin, until
two days z o part owner Of the Cadil-
lao hotel, Eddy and Leavenworth streets.
committed suicide this morning by
shooting himself in the head. He took
his life in his bedroom in the CASA Iona
apartments, 903 Pine street.
'Toukin, who was SO years old. for.
merly was engaged in the general mer-
chandise business in Virginia City, Ne
vada, and is well known there. He
came here in the Fall Of 1911. and on
November 10 Of that year bought . half
interest in the Eddy street hotel. From
that time on, according to W. O. Tonkin,
his son, he began losing money. Suit
was fled recently for q dissolution of
partnership, and " days ago Tonkin
withdrew from the hotel. . heavy loser
in the venture.
"He is said to have brooded confirm.
ally over his misfortune. Last night he
asked his son why the cartridges had
been taken from his revolver. Il was
then suspected that he thought of sui
eide. and q close watch was kept ON
him by his family.
This morning Tonkin kissed his wife
goodby when she left the house. Shortly
after IL o'clock he retired to his bed.
o while his daughter, Miss Della
Tonkin. and her grandmother. Mrs.
Orombie, were sitting In an adjoining
chamber.
"a minute later q shot was heard and
Tonkin was found dead. He had shot
himself through the mouth, the bullet
passing out the back Of his skull. He is
survived by a widow, a son and q daugh-
ter"
The Bulletin says OF the affair:
walter j. Tonkin, hotel ard mining
man, committed suicide in his apart
ments at Pine and Mason streets this
forenoon by shooting himself. The
bullet lodged in his brain, Tonkin dying
instantly.
"Despondency over business reverses,
through which he lost $17. 900, lie ascribed
by Tonkin's wife and family as the cause
OF the suicide.
Until Monday the deceased was half
owner of the Cadillac hotel in this city.
tie invested his money In the hostelry
two years ago, when he came here from
Virginia City. Nevada, where he con-
Quoted a big dry goods house. He was
forced by the lack of funds to sever his
connections with the hotel, where he
had made his home.
"Five minutes before ending his life,
Tonkin was %conversIng in a jovial
manner with his 17-year-old daughter.
Celia Patting her on the back before
going to his room, he said. Celia, you
are a good little bracer.' He then left
her. apparently in good spirits. laid
down, placed the muzzle OF q revolver
in his mouth. pulled the trigger and died.
Hearing the muffied shot, Celia
rushed into her fathers room, scream
ing to him to talk to her, without avail.
Mrs. Tonkin was in the Emporium.
where she has been employed since her
husbands income vanished, when no.
tilted Of the suicide. Walter G. Tonkin.
a son, was also absent at his work in a
downtown office
Between sobs the widow told Of her
husband escorting her to the elevator
outside their apartment this morning
and kissing her good.by as she started for
her work, the wages from which she had
hoped would help Tonkin to again es-
tablish himself"
Funeral Largely Attended
The Virginia City Chronicle says
the funeral of the late Walter j. Tonkin
took place Sunday afternoon in San
Francisco from the Odd Fellows Hall,
under the auspices of the Blue Lodge Of
the Masonic Order. Several hundred
Masons from the numerous orders at
tended the funeral, the services being
very impressive and the floral offerings
profuse. especially one to be noted was
that sent from Argenta Chapter No. z.
Among the former friends and associates
Of the deceased were many from En-.
reka. and many well known in Virginia,
his late home.