Starvation Heights by Gregg Olson
I n 1911 two wealthy British heiresses came to a sanitarium near Seattle to undergo the revolutionary fasting treatment of Linda Burfield Hazzard. It was supposed to be a holiday for the two sisters. But within a month of arriving at what the locals in Olalla, Wash., called “Starvation Heights,” the women were emaciated shadows of their former selves, groaning in pain, waiting for death.
Dora and Claire Williamson had fallen into the hands of Dr. Hazzard, a woman of extraordinary evil and greed who would stop at nothing to achieve her ambitions.
This is her story
Linda Hazzard
At her death, Claire Williamson weighed less than 50 pounds, less than half her weight before the fasting cure. Still, the doctor insisted her patient’s weight had nothing to do with her demise. Her autopsy noted cirrhosis of the liver as the cause of death. After the autopsy, Claire’s diamond rings were slipped from her emaciated fingers and put into Linda Hazzard’s jewelry box. Her gowns found their way into the doctor’s wardrobe. The victim’s gold fillings and crowns were pulled from her teeth and sold to a local dentist.
Gregg Olsen
You may want to go to his website and read all about Starvation Heights for yourself.
Jan 06, 2013 @ 10:48:13
Sounds interesting. I am busy with “The LIves of John Lennon” by Goldman. Goldman is either a sensationalist as my one friend described his work or Lennon is really way weirder than anyone could imagine LOL. But it is pretty ‘fascinating ‘ thus far…
Jan 07, 2013 @ 06:11:14
I think he was rather weird and you know famous people often become even more weird.
Jan 06, 2013 @ 13:10:34
YIKES! And EVIL! I’m bookmaking the site now. EVIL!!!
But thanks for the link 🙂
Jan 07, 2013 @ 06:12:55
Amazing story, and Gregg Olsen has done a lot of research because this is a true account.
Hope you are well
🙂
Jan 06, 2013 @ 18:05:25
The name should have warned everyone.
A dangerous monster out to make a fast buck?
Jan 07, 2013 @ 06:13:58
Actually you are right and there were many jokes about the surname.
Jan 07, 2013 @ 07:43:07
I can imagine!
Jan 06, 2013 @ 22:50:01
Wow, 1911. This obscession some have with weight loss has been going on longer than I had really thought.
Jan 07, 2013 @ 06:17:32
No they all had some ailment of sorts and went for treatment because this Hazzard woman professed that the cause of all illness was diet and that you have to go on a starvation diet to cleanse the system.
PS But I know there are cases of anorexia nervosa that has been documented quite a few centuries ago.
Jan 08, 2013 @ 09:54:51
Wow! I’m sure there are probably these types of clinics existing today
Jan 08, 2013 @ 11:23:45
Yes there are a couple of ‘hydro’s’ where you are on a diet but they don’t starve you to death
🙂