Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-10-23
From the Boston Herald. 10th.l
TWO GIRLS ATTEMPT SUICIDE.
One Succeeds-.-The Other Lives
One more unfortunate
Weary of breath,
Rashly importunate
flona IN her rest

| Oft quoted and familiar as are these
| lines of Hood, they were never more ap-
| plicable than to o iyoung girl, who, in a
rash, unre1ecting hour, committed her
| self to the food last night; and it is only
by the purest good fortune that they do
not equally apply to two instead of one.
1t does not appear that the search for
oblivion by these two foolish young la
dies was prompted by sorrow, remorse,
or shame, motives which too often, alas,
govern the suicidal hand, but, so far as
can be learned, they were impelled by a
mere whim, transparent fancy.
The particulars are these: Yesterday
Hannah Mclaughlin, a fine-lOoking girl.
some twenty years old, came from Low
| ell to Boston on visit Yesterday ai-
ternoon she incidentally met an old
friend named Maria Cavanaugh, a girl
Of about her own age. Being rejoiced to
see each other they Joined hands for the
afternoon at least-and for death as it
afterwards proved-and determined to
pay visit 10 some mutual friends Of
theirs and spend the afternoon.
This project was carried into effect,
and their diversions we're carried into
the evening; and during the time, as one
of them this morning confesses, they be-
came slightly, only slightly, exhilarated
from drinking wine, and their spirits
were correspoHdingly exuberant when
they came forth upon the street This,
as near as can be calculated, was about
10 o'clock
Where they were, or what they did,
from this time until halfpast eleven, we
have not learned. nor is II material to
what followed. But it appears that du-
ring this period the Cavanaugh girl,
prompted by sudden freak, said to her
companion that she had a good mind to
90 and drown herself, and declared she
would, IL the other girl would go too.
The Mclaughlin girl assented, partially;
when her companion told her she had
not pluck enough to do it. This remark
determined her, and she fully declared
her willingness to take part in the
scheme. Charlestown bridge was sug-
gested as good theatre Of action, but
Craige's bridge was adopted as afording
a better opportunity, and thither the
giddy pair, intent on injury 10 them
selves, repaired.
On the bridge they we're met by oficer
Bliss Of the third police, who suggested
to them that they had better wind their
way homeward. They assented, and
turned apparently to retrace their steps.
The officer gave no further thought 70
them at the time, and passed on. Half
an hour later the girls stood on the east
eru pier Of the bridge near the draw.
Here they stood side BY side, deliberately
Invested themselves Of bonnets, shawls,
hoop-skirts and undershirts, which they
laid carefully and nicely in a pile to-
gether. Then they approached the brink
Of the pier The night was dark, cloudy
and damp, they were alone with them
selves, and the gurgling Of the black tor
rent below them did not for moment
cause them TO reconsider their intent
They stood for a moment on the verge,
Joined hands in front, and, with their
arms eucircIing each others waists,
leaped forth into the darkness and the
food, the waters engulphed them, but
they soon rose again TO the surface.