OBITUARY ---------------
LIFE WAS A BURDEN
Albert Hanson Wrote a Message
of Farewell and Died.
Last Words to His Little Daughter,
The Funeral Ceremonies
Two County Pioneers Laid to Rest
Monday afternoon the community was
greatly startled when it becae known
that Albert Hanson had committed suicide
by drowning himself in the Stanford Lake
back of the University.
Mr. Hanson had been a resident of this
city for upwards of thirdy years, during
most of that time being connected with
the Hanson Lumber Company.
Some of his intimate friends who noticed
his actions lately surmized that he con-
templated taking his own life. Two
months ago the relations between himself
and brother became strained and he was
dismissed from the latter's employ. Since
that time he has been drinking heavily
endeavoring to find surcease of fan-
cied sorrow in the indulgence of liquor.
There is but little doubt that he con-
templated suicide for some time. Nearly
two weeks ago he drove to Menlo Park,
tied his horse in front of the Oak Grove
Villa and cooly walked to the Bear Gulch
Water Works, a distance of four miles,
and was seen to walk around the lake sev-
eral times as if to find where the water
was deepest in which to leap. It is sup-
posed that his courage failed him and he
retraced his steps to Menlo.
Saturday morning last Mr. Hanson went
to San Francisco and on the following
Monday morning visited his brother's
office to seek passage on one of the steam-
ers going north, it being his intetion, so
it is said to make a short sea voyage. Not
receiving any encouragement from the
superintendent, Mr. Cheesborough, it is
supposd he then made up his mind to
"take a step in the dark."
He boarded ther 12 o-clock train, got off
at Palo Alto and went direct to Lake La-
gunita, divested himself of his clothing
and plunged into the water. On his cloth-
ing was found the following letter:
April 28, 1895
My Dear Vida: I am about to take a step in
the dark. I have left everything to you and
your mother. I cannot stand this any longer.
They have hounded me to death. But it is
just as well to die this way as any other. Be a
good smart girl. I cannot write any more,
Your dear father, ALBERT HANSON.
It is difficult to understand who was
hounding him as he had no creditors and
only owed trifling sums in town which
will be promptly paid. .. presenting bills
to the proper sources.
The body was recovered from the lake
by a Stanford student and after an in-
quest by Coroner Secora of Santa Clara
county, wa brought to this city.
Albert Hanson was a jovial good-natured
man of strong friendhip and strong hatred.
He was true as steel to his friends and to
his eemies he gave no quarter. Like all
men he had his virtues and his faults. The
great redeeming feature of his character
was his charitable disposition. No one
would be hungry or in need if Albert Han-
son knew it. Those who have been helped
by him can best speak of his generosity.
He possessed considerable self esteem,
but this might be considered more a failing
than a fault.
Deceased was a native Denmark, aged
54 years. He was a prominent Mason and
Odd Fellow and belonged to the United
Order of Workmen. He leaves a family
of three daughters: Pauline, aged 13 years,
Laura aged 12, and Viola, aged 9, and a
wife the daughter of James Hilton.
The funeral took place from the family
residence at 2:30 o'clock on Wednesday.
Religious services at the house were simple
but impressive. Rev. Wallace of the Epis-
copal Church, San Mateo, and Dr. Stowe
of Menlo Park officiating. At the conclus-
ion of a short paryer by Rev. Wallace, the
choir in a low and impressive voice sung
the hymn, "Go bury thy sorrows." Dr.
Stowe paid a brief but touching tribute to
the dead; eloquently telling the many
kind deeds of him who would soon disap-
pear forever from the view of those who
loved him. The remains were ollowed to
the grave by a large number of friends and
acquaintances. The members of Bay
View Lodge, I. O. O. F, and Workmen
marched to the Cemetery in a body. The
last rites at the grave were performed
under the auspices of the Odd Fellows. Jos.
J. Bullock and Geo. W. Fox recitiing the
ritual of the order.
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