A Desperate Act at the Madrona Hotel
A waiter attempted to end his life by inhaling chloroform; doctors managed to revive him.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
E. H. Snyder, a waiter at the Madrona hotel, tried to end his life last night by drinking and inhaling a small quantity of chloroform. The place he chose for taking the poison was in a cottage near the hotel, where he was found by his wife in an unconscious condition. A physician was called, and in due course of time Snyder revived. He said he was sorry that his attempt had been frustrated. The only cause that can be ascribed is jealousy.
“He said he was sorry that his attempt had been frustrated.”
This story offers a grim, intimate look at the mental health struggles hidden behind the service industry of 1890s Seattle. The 'Madrona Hotel' name persists in the neighborhood today, anchoring a painful, private event to a specific corner of the city.
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