Malcolm Campbell

White male, born about 1843 in Scotland. Died in Pensacola, Florida of drowning on 6 August 1902. At the time of his death he was 59 years old, single and worked as a gardener. Both his parents were born in Scotland. The death record was signed by J.E. Wolfe, Coroner. He was buried in the Escambia County Poor Farm cemetery by John G. Wood.

Mr. Campbell’s death was reported on in the Pensacola News the day his body was found. According to the article, it was estimated he had been dead for at least two days, putting his actual date of death on 4 August 1902. He was found in the water “on the bayou beach near Brent’s mill” in the morning. It apparently took some time to establish his identity by perople who had known him, though the article never gives his first name.

“Campbell had built him a house at Patterson station, being at one time a wealthy man. Misfortune and an alignment with unscrupulous persons contributed to a rapid decline of his wealth and soon reduced him to direst poverty. Two years ago it was discovered his condition was worthy of attention. Friends went to his room and found that, being too proud to beg or request favors, he was on the point of starvation. The man was old and helpless, so he was taken in charge and sent to the poor house. He was quite sick at the time he was sent to this institution, but upon recovery signfied his intention and willingness to shift for himself. This was only recently, and for the past few days he has been a constant visitor to the city, making his headquarters around the docks, where he could meet and converse with sailors.

“It is supposed that his fate was brought upon himself since he was quite unfortunate in finding employment…”

“A close examination of surroundings made it apparent that a suiced of the greatest deliberation was planned and faultlessly executed. He had taken off his well-worn coat, vest and hat and with an apparent full realization as to what he was doing, lay prone in the shallow water, breathed the briny waters of the bay into his nostrils until death…”

I begin to wonder if his death record gave the correct name.

I have not been able to locate a Malcolm Campbell in local records that I can identify as this man. There is a Malcolm Campbell in Santa Rosa County of about the same age, who had a large family and died several years after this Malcolm.

I have found a 1900 census record for a single lodger, named only “Campbell,” living at 520 Zarragoza Street in Pensacola, the home of one Frank B. Pays, his wife, and son. “Campbell” was 57 years old, widowed, and worked as a carpenter. His birthplace was transcribed as “Missouri,” though I am not sure that is what it actually says. This man would be about the right age to be our Malcolm Campbell, and the news article described him as having been living in a room about the year 1900. It is possible this is the same man.

I cannot find any property records which match him to confirm his home ownership in Patterson Station – which I have had a decently difficult time locating in Pensacola; I believe it to have been in the neighborhood of Cypress Street and Pace/Barrancas Blvd. near Bayou Chico. (Not being certain of his first name is an obstacle; plenty of Campbells purchased property in Escambia County during his lifetime; there are none under “Malcolm.” I have not been able to locate him in any City Directories, though there are few extant before his death in 1902. If, however, Patterson Station was considered outside the city limts and, if he was indeed an inmate of the Poor Farm, he would not have been listed.

SOURCES:

“Found Body of White Man on the Beach,” The Daily News (Pensacola, FL), 6 AUG 1902, p. 5