Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-23

THROWS HERSELF INTO THe RIvsK AT
N!AeARA FALLS, WITH HEs CHILD IN
HER ARMS.
The Niagara Falls Gazette OF Wednesday
furnishes the following description Of thrill
ing scene heretofore briefly noticed by teie-
graph:
One of the most exciting scenes ever en-.
acted transpired In Prospect Park Tuesday
arms deliberately jumped into the river from
the parapet wall At Prospect Point, and bot
for ioe providential interference of a hack
man MAJ would have sacceeded in her design to
carried over the American Fall.
Quite Q number Of strangers, with two or
three villagers, were standing around Pros
driven up with lady and little girl about
four years old In the carriage; they entered
the park, and were driven up to the point,
where the lady and child alighted and de-
scended TO the parapet wall on the brink of
the fall. The driver leisurely followed his
party, and was standing Ia the extreme cor
ner OF the Poi't area, on the very brink of
ladies standing near him scream, and turn.
Ing around he saw bis lady passenger, with
the child cltngtng to her skirts, in the water
tight before his eyes. Like q flash he grasped
for the woman, and providentially succeed
ed In securing hold Of her skirts. A stranger,
Mr.. l.. Anthony, of Sandusky, Ohio, wit
Messing the transaction, sprang to assist the
precarious hold ON its mothers dress, he
seized the little girl, when the mother threw
b. arm around her and curtly requested the
gentleman "tO let the child alOneb
By this time several persons had come to
the assistance of the driver and stranger,
and the lady and child were with considera-
bic difficulty lifted over the wall and taken
to the carriage. After she had been taken
nom the water the mother reproachfully
questioned one OF her rescuers why they had
not let them lherself and child) alone. Mr..
carriage with the lady, and together they
were driven to the International Hotel, Toe
little girl cried piteously from the fright she
clothing. The mothers entire thought after
she had been saved appeared to be centered
In the little child. She carefully wrapped
ateiy upon arriving at the hotel aad being
taken 10 room where there was q FIRE,
she undressed the little girl, and had her
thoroughly warmed and put to bed.
In answer to the Undergraduates of Mr.
Nelson the lady reluctantly gave her name
as Mrs. NJ. DanfOrd, wife of Hon. Lorenzo
Danford, OF st. Clairville, Ohio, the repre-
present House of Representatives at Wash
tngten. She said she had come to Niagara
for the purpose of throwing herself and child
tanning and attempting to carry out such
terrible purpose. Sne disclaimer any tnten.
tion Of making second attempt upon her
She objected strongly to having her husband
notified of her presence here and OF her sui
cidal attempt, but finally yielded her CON
sent t SAYING EnO that perhaps 1t would be
kilograms were Immediately sent to Mr.
DaDford at st. Clairville, acQuaInting him
with the fact OF his wife and child being at
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.. Danforu himself, dated at Cadiz
Junction, Ohio, has since been receiysi
saying that he has started for Niagara
Both mother and child suffered from ner-
vous prOstratiOn alter being taken to the
hotel, but the little girl has quite recovered
from her fright, and Mrs. Dauford Is quietly
awaiting the arrival OF her husband, who is
expected tonight. A party OF residents OF
81 Clairvtlle, Mrs. DanfOrd's home, are al
the hotel, and have sought an interview
personally acquainted, but Without success
These acquaintance say that Mrs. Danford
Ii lady OF unexceptional character aud o.
great personal worth; that she is connectej
with the Treasury department at Washing
ton, and probably came here direct from
that city. or her husband they say that he
Is cultivated gentleman aud q Kind hus.
band and father; that he was q widower
with three children when he married the
present Mrs. D., and that the little girl now
with his wife Is the sole fruit OF their union.
The only explanation Of Mrs. Danford's con.
supposed domestic trouble, though there il
not the faintest superstition Of Any criminal
relations entering into the matter. Mrs.
Danford Is q lady OF by no means unprepos-
quite pretty. The child apparently does not
fully comprehend the terrible nature Of yes
teroay's experience.
No Mrs. DanNord is employed at the Treas.
ury department. The only relative OF M
Lorenzo Danford there Is q sister in law,
and she is now on duty.
The Suicide Of ME-. smith, OF the
Navy Department.
The suicide on the steamer Newport OF
Frank B. Smith, private secretary to Secre-
tary Robson, was mentioned In yesterday g
STAR. The New York Herald gives the fol-
lowing additional facts:
Last week he was handed q number OF
of ono S disPetchss BY Secretary Roesson,
China After completing Arrangements for
his journey he proceeded to New York,
which city he reached on Saturday last. He
stopped at the Hoffman House, where he
remained until Monday noon, when he
stepped on bOa I'd the steamer Newport and
applied for passage to FAN River as already
reported In the Herald. He has q married
sister, who resides on Staten Island. His
father and mother are both dead. II secrecy
had been possible AZ to his identity the In
tsntion was TO let the body remain at FAN
River till the affair had blown over, when 1t
would be taken to New York for interment;
but as the public have got the facts 1t is pos,
sible that the body will be forwarded at
once. Secretary Robson was in New York
q few days ago, and when he heard of the
sad affair he concluded at once that the VIC
tim was his secretary"
Very little IL known at the Navy depart
ment about Smith. He mingled very little
with his fellow clerks. and was always very
quiet. He was of q melancholy disposition,
caused by ill-health. Three or four weeks
ago he handed in his resignation, to take
effect early In October, and it is the opinion
OF the officials at the department that he had
at that time fully made up his mind to COM
init suicide. He consulted a physician In
New York recently, who said 1t was impos-
sible for him TO live long, as he had the con-
sumption. He had been to China @ year or
two ago, and after drawing his pay, 1t was
bis intention TO start for that country, with
no expectation OF ever bcing able to return.
IL Is not known positively whether he was
In love or not. but detection OF spirits from
ill-heslth is thought to have been the direct
cause of the rash act.
A STRANGER From TKxAs.-Last Thurs
day three colored men were shot and wound
ed near Monroe, Louisiana, by q white man
named Halfway. Subsequently Q warrant
was obtained and posse OF white citizens
went In pursuits and captured HALFWAY Sum
% IN n hv1n