Thomas-M_-Campbell-95972

Obituary

Early yesterday morning a young man, dressed in a light gray suit and fashionable brown hat, attracted considerable attention by his extraordinary actions. About half-past nine o'clock he reached the water-works' engine house. His excited manner attracted the attention of several employees of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern railway, which is situated near the engine house. Theses men saw him cross the railroad track in a great hurry, and they watched him as he stepped upon a raft which is lying in the river in front of the engine house. As soon as he reached the raft, the unfortunate young man threw off his coat and hat and plunged into the river, which at that point is at least fourteen feet deep with as swift a current as is known in this vicinity. In a few moments he appeared on the surface, but upon noticing the men who were running toward the raft to rescue him, he struck out and disappeared once more, several feet further in the stream. This was the last seen of him. Mr. Ingersoll is dragging the river under the direction of Assistant Marshal Nelson, but up to last night his efforts to find the body have been unsuccessful. It is surmised that the body has floated five or six miles below the city. Marshal Streed took possession of the coat and hat of the young man, whose name proved to be Thomas M. Campbell. The coat, as stated above, is of light gray material, and contained a handkerchief, several letters and an order book. From the letters it appears that the deceased had been out of employment for some time, and that all of his efforts to obtain work had been unsuccessful. A postal card, addressed to his father, Mr. A.W. Campbell, Chariton, Lucas county, Iowa, read as follows: "Dear parents: Was in Chicago Monday, but it seems as if those houses have engaged their men. T.M. Campbell." The postal card was dated St. Louis, and written on August 20. From inquiries at other points in was learned that the young man is about twenty-three years of age and a traveling man by profession. Several years ago he represented the wholesale millinery house of Liebstaedter & Levi, of this place, and later on the Kansas City house of Liebstaedter & Co. Reference to the latter house is made in the order book found in the coat. A brother of the deceased, C.C.Campbell, is now traveling for Liebstaedter 7 Levi. His parents reside at Chariton, iowa where they occupy an enviable social position. Mr. A.W. Campbell, who had been notified of the drowning of his son arrived on train No. 8, of the C., B.&Q. railway, last evening. Mr. C.C. Campbell has also been notified of the sad event, and will probably arrive in time to console his heart-broken mother and sister. None of the acquaintances seem to be able to explain the rash deed of the deceased, but it seems to be the general impression that despondency, brought on by discouraging efforts to secure work, and financial difficulties, was the true cause. From letters found in the coat pockets, it appears that he has been trying very hard to obtain employment at New York, Chicago and Omaha, but received the stereotype reply "filed for future action" from every house. A letter from his father shows that he was under financial obligations to several parties in different parts of the country. There is no doubt that he labored under a mental disarrangement when he arrived in the city yesterday morning, as he did not even recognize former intimate acquaintances and talked incoherently and without connection. It was a sad case of temporary insanity and no other explanation can be given. A rumor was circulated yesterday afternoon that unrequited love was the cause of the rash act. A gentleman who claims to have been intimately acquainted with the deceased states that about a year ago Thomas M. Campbell was engaged to a young lady, residing in the interior of the state whom he loved with all the affections of which the heart of man is capable. He was so thoroughly wrapped up in the happy thoughts of a union with the lady in question that his sole aim was to provide for her a comfortable home. While exerting all the energy and business enterprise of which hewas capable, to execute this noble undertaking, he heard that his finance had broken her vows and had given her heart to another man. From that hour the young man became reticent, the gay spirits of youth left him, and his actions, even to his best friends, changed unaccountably. His parents, to whom the cause of his melancholy thoughts was unknown, urged him to undertake a trip to Colorado and the west in search of health. Obeying the desires of his beloved parents he went to Colorado, but without beneficial results. He returned as sad and dejected as he had left. Since that time he has been trying to obtain employment in the capacity of traveling representative of some millinery establishment, but meeting with ill success his melancholia took the form of a despondency which led him to end his career which began under favorable circumstances, in the waters of the Mississippi.

Aug.24, 1884 The men engaged by the father of young Tom Campbell, who drowned himself in front of the water works' engine house Friday morning, found his body yesterday morning and towed it down the river to Columbia street, from whence it was taken to Unterkircher's undertaking establishment. The funeral will take place this afternoon. Mrs. Campbell, mother of the deceased, is seriously ill and unable to be here. Nothing was found about the body to explain the motive of the suicide.