Suicide by Drowning
Eau Claire Weekly Telegram | August 25, 1898

Menomonie - August Elsner, a German at North Menomonie aged 57 years, committed suicide by drowning in the Red Cedar river here. He attached a stone to his body and jumped out of a boat.

Chad’s Take – A creatively awful way to go out

During my research of old articles I have come across thousands of suicides. Usually the suicide is pretty mild and consists of someone consuming a deadly concoction of pills or poison. It is also quite common to run across “traditional” suicides where the people simply shot themselves to death. However, there are some instances where the person used some creativity while doing themselves in. Perhaps the most interesting suicide I have ever stumbled on was a man who was so determined to kill himself that he took numerous steps to ensure that death would not escape him. First the man devoured a deadly dose of poison. While the poison was circulating though his body he set his entire barn on fire. The man then grabbed a rope and walked inside his blazing barn and hanged himself.

I have to say that the above article is one of the few intentional drownings that I have stumbled across in my research. Intentionally drowning yourself was not a popular way to meet your fate. You always hear people saying that drowning is one of the worst ways to die and perhaps the suicidal people of this time period heeded this advice and found a different means to their end. I can imagine poor Mr. Elsner drifting to the bottom of the river only to discover a new found respect for life. However, at this moment of clarity his struggle to reach the surface would be futile as the heavy stone attached to him would ensure that he met a watery grave. Yet maybe I am wrong, maybe Mr. Elsner simply floated down to the bottom and calmly waited for the flowing water of the Red Cedar River to end his pain. No matter how this suicide scenario played out one thing that is certain is that Mr. Elsner succeeded with his plan to die.

Keep an eye out...