TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
DEATH BY HIS OWN HAND, OCCURRED DEC. 28, 1887.
Wednesday morning, about six o'clock, Mr. William Wilson, who lived about one-half mile west of Cambridge, took his own life, by going to the upper story of his barn, filled with hay, and setting the hay on fire, and then remaining in the flames and smoke until burned and charred almost to a coal. His arms to his elbows, and legs to his knees, being entirely consumed by the fire, when, by great efforts of Chris OSMUNDSON and David Beckley, his charred remains were rescued from the flames.
Mr. Wilson was about 60 years of age. He came to this county in 1854, from Linn county, Iowa, where he resided a short time after coming from Belmont county, Ohio, where he was born. He married Miss Martha Whorton, who now survives her lamented husband.
Mr. Wilson had always been a hard working, economical man, and had accumulated considerable wealth. Age and over-work brought on a debility which resulted in impairment of the mind, and for the last year he has suffered it greater part of the time with severe mental disease which led to his tragic death. Wednesday morning about five o'clock, Mr. Wilson went to the barn and into the hay mow in great haste, but was closely followed and requested to cone back to the house. which he did. About an hour after this, and while the family were at breakfast, Mr. Wilson was left in the sittng room with one of his boys. In a short time the little fellow ran to his mother and said his father had gone up stairs. Mrs. Wilson followed the boy at once, up the stair way, and found that Mr. Wilson had jumped out of the window and escaped, (the house had been locked to prevent his escape.) Mrs. Wilsou at once give the alarm, when Mr. Pearson and Mr. Wilson's sons went to the barn, about one hundred yards from the house, and found the may (about 60 tons) all on fire. They tried to get into the hay mow to rescue Mr. Wilson, but were prevented by the flames, which filled the entire vacant part of the upper story of the barn. Tlie wind was blowing a strong gale through a window in the north end of the barn, and in a short time it was burned down. The lower part of the barn was filled with cattle and machinery. The cattle were all rescued and a part of the machinery was saved; but the entire loss of personal property will exceed $1,500.