The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-25

RICHMOND %.
"a strange story.
| THE, WIFE OF q A. MEMBER oE CONGRESS- At
! TEMPS SUICIDE AT NIAGARA FALLS.
The Niagara Falls. Gazette Of Wednesday
furnishes the following description Of a
thrilling scene heretofore briefly noticed by
One one Of tile most sst exciting scenes ever
day afternoon. a lady with q little chfldins
her arms deliberately jumped into the river
from the parapet wall at Prospect Point.
and but for the Providential interference Of
hackman would have succeeded in her de-
| sign to kill both herself and her little child
| BY being carried over the American fall. 3
Quite q number of strangers, with two or
three villagers, were standing around Pros
pect Point about 4 O'Clock, when hack was
driven upiwith lady and little girl about
four years old in the carriage, entered the
park, and was driven up to the point, where
the lady and child alighted and descended
to the parapet wall on the brink OF the fall.
The driver leisurely followed bis party, and
was standing in the extreme corner OF the
point area, on the very brink OF the cataract,
when lie heard some Of. the ladies stand
| ing near him scream, and turning around
he saw his lady passenger, with the child
clinging to her, skirts, in the water right
under his eyes. Like fash he grasped for
the woman, and providentially succeeded
| in securing hold OF her dress. A stranger,
Mr. l.. Anthony, OF Sandusky, Ohio,
witnessing the, transaction, sprang to assist
the driver, and fearing the child would
loose it's precarious hold on its mothers
dress, he seized the little girl, when the
mother threw her arm around her and
curtly requested the gentlemen to " let the
child alone."
BY this time several persons had come to
the assistance OF the driver and stranger;
and the lady and child were with considera-
BILE difficulty lifted over the wall and taken
to the carriage. After she had been taken
from the water the mother reproachfully
questioned one OF her reseuers why they had
not let them (hersef and child alone. Mr..
Nelson, the president Of the park, entered
the carriage with the lady, and together they
were driven to the International Hotel. The
little girl cried piteously from the fright she
had endured and from the chill Of the wet
clothing. The mothers entire thought, af-
ter she had been saved, appeared to be CEN
tered in the, little child. She carefully
wrapped it up in waterproof cloak, and
Immediately upon arriving at the hotel and
being taken to a room where there was a
fire, She undressed the little girl, had her
thoroughly warmed and put to bed.
In answer to the interrogatories OF Mr..
Nelson the lady reluctantly gave her name
as Mrs. NJ. Danford, wife OF Hon. Lorenzo
fDanford, OF St. Clairville, Ohio, the repre-
sentative of the Sixteenth Ohio district in
the present House of Representatives at
Washington. She said she had come to
Niagara for the purpose Of throwing herself
and child over the falls, but gave no reason
for entertaining and attempting to carry out
such terrible purpose. She disclaimed
any intention OF making a second attempt
upon her life or upon the life OF her little
daughter. She objected strongly to having
her husband notified. OF her presence here
and Of suicidal attempt, but finally yielded
her consent, saying that perhaps it would
be better for him to know all"
Telegrams were Immediately sent to Mr..
Danford, at st. Clairyille, acquainting him
with the fact of his wife and child being at
the international, and Of the unsuccessful
attempt to commit suicide. The telegraph
operator at St. Clairville answered that Mr..
Danford was absent from home; that he
had telegraphed himself Of the matter, and
would do all that was possible for him. A
telegram from Mr. Daniord himself, dated
Cadiz Junction, Ohio, has since been re-:
ceived, saying that he had started for Mag
ara Falls. @..:ss g..E -
Both mother and child suffered from
nervous prostration after being taken to the
hotel, but the little girl has quite recovered
from her fright, and Mrs. Danford is quietly
| awaiting the arrival OF her husband, who is
expected tonight. A party Of residents OF
st. Clairville, Mrs. Danford's home, are at
the hotel, and have sought an interview
with Mrs. Daniord, with whom they are
| personally acquainted, but without success.
These acQllaintances say that Mrs. Danford
is lady Of unexceptional character and OF
great personal worth; that she is connected
with the Treasury Department at Washing
ton, and probably came here direct from that
CITY. OF her husband they say that he is cul-
! itiyated gentleman and q kind husband and
father; that he was a widower with three
children when he married the present Mrs.
Danford, and that the little girl now with
his wife is the sole fruit OF their union.
The only explanation of Mrs: Danford's
conduct which they can conceive is based
upon supposed domestic trouble, though
there is not the faintest suppo osltion OF any
administrations entering into the matter.
Mrs. Danford,is lady OF by no means un-
prepossessing appearance, while the htlie
Girl is quite pretty. The child apparently
does not fully comprehend the terrible t ma
ture Of Yesterdays experience. s:ii,,It iitt
! -. i'.-it t;---------sae.-- :ff