La Grande, Union County, Oregon
Suicide At La Grande
A Prominent Business Man Takes his own life.
Despondency The Cause
A Woman in (?) – Laudenum the Weapon – The Funeral.
A most deliberate and shocking suicide occurred at La Grande last Friday. A dispatch to the Oregonian says: Early Friday morning William Bumcratz of the firm of Bumcratz and Graham, was found to be seriously ill, and everything that medical science could do was tried upon him without avail, and at five he died from an overdose of laudanum. It was not until a letter was found several hours after his death, that the fact became known that he had taken the drug. He had been low-spirited for several days, and the fact that he had fully resolved upon taking his life, and the cause therefor, is shown by the following:
La Grande, Or., November 5
To Friend Will Stephan: I want you to look after all there is concerning me, and about me. What I have in the North Pacific country is in such shape that no one can tell about it. There is one “Rosa Rebald”, if she can be found, who will throw some light about what I have done. I received a letter from her which I destroyed, so don’t bother much about me. The trouble with her is why my time has come, and I go, I know not where. If I want, it might be worse. Please forgive me if you can. Think kindly of me. You, I have always considered my best friend. Good-by, “Bully Old Boy” is gone. Mrs. Bertha V. Tomlinson, at Vancouver, Washington is my sister. Get my mail and answer it.
Wm. Bumcratz
Mr. Bumcratz was one of the proprietors of the Queen restaurant and was doing a thriving business. He had never given the slightest intimation to anyone of committing the act. He was an ex-conductor of the Union Pacific road here and has railroaded over most of the Western country and has been a prime favorite wherever he was known. He leaves considerable property here and in the State of Washington. What the trouble with the woman was which he speaks of in the letter is a mystery to his friends here.
He was a prominent member of the Bortherhood of Railway Trainmen and also a Knight of Pythias.
His funeral took place this afternoon and the body left to-night for Vancouver in charge of a committee of the Brotherhood of Trainmen. He will be buried by the Knights of Pythias at Vancouver tomorrow.
Eastern Oregon Reupublic, Thursday
November 13, 1890