| OCR Text |
Show Sudden Death of a Traveler. M. Edmond do Merricourt, a Frenchman, died tuddenly in hie room at tho Walker house yesterday afternoon. The story" was immediately immedi-ately put in circulatioa that he bad suicided, but investigation shows that his death was occasioned by heart disease. Deceased was traveling in search of health, and had been absent from his home in Paris some time. He arrived in San Francisco from Australia a few months ago, and came to Salt Lake about the middle of December. He stated that he was en route for Paris, but fearing to undertake the journey, his health being very poor, ho concluded to re- turn to Fr'iBco for the winter. He resided at Gen. Baruum'a while here, when his disease seriously troubled him on several occasions. Yesterday he went to tho Walker bouse, and remained quietly in his room until between 3 and 4 o'clock, when the odor of chloroform proceed pro-ceed ing from the apartment at tracted the attention of guests and servants in the house. Mr. Leaman opened the door, when Merricourt arose from his chair and wildly complained com-plained that he was in excruciating pain. Mr. Leaman called in a physician, but the un fortu nate Frenchman was past recovery, and expired in a few moments. A bottle which had contained digitalis, a medicine which he used to assuage thu pain, was found in the room. During hia brief stay here he made many acquaintance?, and attended two or three balls, when he participated partici-pated in and heartily enjoyed the dancing. He was a genial, clever gentleman, affable and ugrccable in his conversation and demeanor. At Gen. Barnum's be left an open note, stating that he was liable to die at any moment, and asking that an accompanying accom-panying letter sealed, stamped and directed to hia mother in Paris, be mailed a Tier his death. He sent his trunks to S.m Frrncisco two dayB ago, and would have followed them immediately, had his health permitted. permit-ted. The personal eflocts that he loft here are but trifling, being, so far ns discovered, a limited wardrobe and $27 curreucy. The coroner opened an inquest on the body last evening, and after hearing the statements of General Barnum, Mr. Leaman, Drs. McBride and Hamilton, adjourned the irjquisition to Dr. Hamilton's office, next Saturday evening nt 7 o'clock. |
