New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-05
THE YOUNG GIRLS SUICIDE IN ILLINOIS

The Quincy Wing gives the following particu-
lars OF the suicide OF Miss Pet Mckay OF that CITY, whose
curious letter. found upon the railroad bridge was pub
The particulars Of this sad occurrence, as obtained
from Mr.. VIM Wood, emplOye on the bridge, are as
follows: Mr.. Wood was going down oakst; toward the
about quarter before o'clock when he NOTICED
young lady "a block in front OF him. between Second and
caught up with her Frontst, near the Union Stock
Yards and passed along toward the bridge, while she
turned of to the right aud walked up the track OF the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Mr.. W. con-
nected with the bridge. which il located at the extreme
end this side Of tho bay Here he stopped 70
talk with Mr. owen srhth the Waterman, Mh, ~,
there he surprised to see the young lady whom he
had noticed coming down the track toward the bridge,
and remarked that she ought to be stopped But tne
Waterman lot her pass, thinking she merely wished TO
cross over TO the other side AZ that portion or the
after her TO assist her over but she skipped along quite
naturally and seemed perfectly at her ease In this rather
and again came up TO her about half way between the
two bridges. He then said, Where are you gong y
thought from her that she needed no assistance
from him. 40 he crossed over TO the LEFT side or the
is tresse covered by broad platform He gradually
got ahead of her and passed on TO the main bridge upon
which Ootpath two boards wide is LAID between the
tracks After walking distance, he turned around
TO SEQ how the young lady was progressing ana
throat though she were unbuttonng her cloak This
aroused his suspicious aud looking around again
hands folding 1t or buttonng It together He at once
turned round and started on run toward her. She
deliberately hung UP her nat ana CLOAK WHO ne was
coming at full speed, and when DO was within about
twenty-five feet OF her. she stopped down. aud gathering
her clothes closely around her. orawled
under the iron rods which support the
bridge under the telegraph wires and jumped into the
water Ere she had taken the fatal leap Mr. Wood called
her Stop" She gave him Que look, and answered,
rm gOuew Mr. Wood at once made motions to the men
the draw TO put the boat at te time running
toward them She did sink entirely out OF sight for
time but was noaed off by the rapid current CON
siderable distance her clothes Keeping her up Mr. Wood
noticed although she did not SINK she kept her head
down. only looking up and gancing at HIM as he
assistance and then thrusng her head under the
water again BY the time he reached the draw the skn
was ready and he with SOME other men, started In pur
suit OF the floating body though at this time II not
visible They sought vain Tor some trace OF the girl
last seen OF her just before Mr. Wood
started down OF the draw 10 get into the
skin, when she was about the distance OF two
blocks down the stream. The point at which
sne Jumped OF was between the sixteenth aud seven
eent spans or about three spans from the eastern end
OF the main bridge The current Is very swift at this
point so that she rapidly carried down stream and
The boat WAS unable 10 reach her before she sunk 10 rise
no more The note found with her dress upon the
bridge and IN which she denied that she Killed herself
for shame or love, was written By her IN bookstore
during the afternoon and II Is evident che contemplated
suicide before she left the house, and deliberately car
ried 10 out. Miss Mckay was young lady about IL
years OF age quite prepOssessng IN appearance, with
dark hair and eyes and easy, pleasant manners. She
had been III short time previous to her death, but
had entirely recovered and apparently In her usual
spIrs t Ia sad however that she often complained OF
'fhaying the blues" aud once threatened TO commit
suicde though attention paid TO the threat
was supposed had no serious intention OF doing any
thing rash.