The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-19
DOWN To DEATH.

A YOUNG LADY LEAPS FROM THE RAILROAD
BRIDGE AT ROCHESTER,, n. ", AND PASSES
OVER THE BRINK OF THE GENEsEE FALLS.
The Rochester Democrat of the Sth inst
gives the following facts connected with the
| suicide OF young woman in that city:
Shortly after o'clock last night wild cry
| came from the lips of woman standing on
the east end of the Central railroad bridge,
| which crosses the Geuesee river but a few
yards above the falls. There was no one
there but herself, for the night was cold,
the wind blew strongly from the gulf below,
and the mist and snow fell in very I'M
comfortable way. The bridge is a very cold
and desolate place during q winters storm.
| Hearing the cry, Thomas Ryan, a flag
man, hurried rom his shanty at the
! foot of Water street, and brakeman
! rushed out from Fell's saloon near
by. The girl was ringing her hands and cry
ing piieOusly as she gazed at dark figure
moving downward in the water. When the
men came up TO her and spoke she turned
and fled screamiD down the railroad track
There was no necessity of asking any ques-
| tons, however; too plainly visible facts
told that terrible tragedy was being
enacted, that q human being was stand
ing at the door OF eternity. Fully out
lined against the sky and only a few feet
from the edge of the falls, stood female
form. No word was uttered by her as she
steadily approached the brink, and no word
was spoken, save stided cry Of horror
from the two witnesses, as she threw out
her arms and went down with the whirling
waters to her death below. Upon the
ice, just below the bridge. we're the
marks the suicide had made when
SHE TOOK HER MAD LEAP.
She had jumped over the railing, falling
upon her hands and knees, got up and
walked deliberately over the ice to where
the current swept by. AS the water is not
very deep now, she must have passed slowly
toward the falls. The girl who had run
from the scene burned to the house
OF her father, John Widmer, No.
30 Herman street, and gave the
sad tidings in an excited manner.
crowd was soon on the spot. The father,
brother and husband of the suicide went
down the icy, dangerous path which leads
to below the TAILS, but were, however, COM
peiledfo postpone their search until this
morning. The facts of this melancholy
case,prior 10 the leap from the bridge, are as
follows: Julia fheuer, the wife Of
Christian Theuer, cabinet maker,
and the daughter of John Wild
mer, OF No. so, Herman street,
gave birth TO child about year ago. The
child died. Grief unseated reason and Mrs.
Theuer became a maniac. She wanted to
follow her child, was tired of life and often
expressed a desire to die. About eight
months since she was removed to the insane
ooJ AAhl al OllCd, lIOln which S06 returned
about two months ago, much better, but
still suffering from her malady. One pc
culiai phase of her insanity was that she
Stunned and
DIsLIKED HER HUSBAND,
though without cause. Since her rsturn she
acted in a rational way and was allowed to
walk out, though always in company with
some one. Last evening she left her home
in company with her sister, Barbara Wild
mer. After walking about, they reached
the corner OF Atwater aud Clinton
streets, where Julia said she wanted to
go down to see the falls. Her sister accom-
panied her To the railroad bridge. They
walked up the south side, and, as the pecu-
liar manner In which Julia acted rendered |
her sister suspicious that she contemplated |
suicide, she tried TO persuade her to leave |
the bridge. They passed to the north side |
Of 1t, and had reached the east end again. |
whom Julia turned suddenly, placed her |
hands upon the railing, and tried to |
jump over. Barbara tried TO hold her back. |
and implored her to desist from her attempt; /
but, with one wild exertion of her frenzied |
power she broke loose and jumped to the |
Ice below. Julia screamed and the men ap
peared. The rest has been narrated above.
Deceased was twenty-six years of age. re-
spectacle, and beloved by large circl0 Of
friends who viii mourn her tragic death. j