The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-24
The Wife OF Congressman Dsnford Tries 90
Drown Herself and Child.

One Of the most exciting scenes ever
enacted transpred In Prospect Park yesterday
afternoon. A lady with little child in her
arms deliberately jumped into the river from
the parapet wall NJ Prospect Point and but for
the providentlal interference Of a haokman,
would have succeeded In her design to Kill both
herself and her little child by being carried over
the American Fall.
A number Of strangers. with two or three VII
layers. were standing around Prospect Point
about 4 o'clock. when a hack driven by y. +.
Wright. with a lady and little girl about four
years old I'm the carriage. entered the Park, and
was driven up the Point where the lady and
child alighted and descended to the parapet wall
on the brink of the Fall. The driver leisurely
followed his party. and was standing In the ex-
IRENE corner Of the Point area, on the very brink
Of the cataract, when he heard some Of the ladies'
standing near him scream aud turning round he
saw his lady passenger, with the child clinging
to her skirts. In the water right under his eyes.
Like Il flash he grasped for the woman, and
pruVidentially succeeded in securing hold OF
her dress. A stranger, Mr. l.. Anthony Of SAN
dusky, ohio witnessing the Transaction, sprang
to assist the driver, and fearing the child would
lose ts prccarious hold on It's mothers dress. he
seized the little girl when the mother threw her
arm around ner; anu curly teiuvsted tne gen
tleman to " let the child alone. by this time =.
J. Mason, Louis Einsten, aud Homer Fields had
come to the assistance Of the driver and the
stranger. and the lady and child were with con-
siderable difficulty lifted over the wall and taken
TO the carriage. After she had been taken from
the winter tho mother reproachfully questioned
one Of her rescuers why they had not let them
herself and child alone. The mothers entire
thought after she had been saved appeared to
wrapped 1t up in waterproof cloak. and imme-
diatcly upon arriving AT the hotel and being
taken to "A room where there FIRE. she I'M
dressed the little girl, had her thoroughly warmed
and put to bed.
In answer To the interrogato cries Of Mr.. Mel
son, the lady reluctantly gave her name as Mrs.
". nanford, wife Of the Hon. Lorenzo Danford,
OF ST tarville. Ohio, the representative of the
Sixteenth ohio District IN the present House OF
Representatives at Washington. She said she
had come to Niagara for the purpose Of throw
ing herself and child over the falls, but gave
no reason for entertaining and attempting to
carry out such n terrible purpose. She dsclaim-
ed any intention OF making second attempt
upon her life or upon the life Of her little daugh-
ter. She objected strongly to having her hus-
band notified OF her presence here and Of her
suicidal attempt. but finally yielded her consent,
saying that perhaps II would DO better for him
to know all
Mrs Danford arrived here on the train on the
Central from the East which due at l.D
but which was delayed and did net get here
until 2;3l She went direct to the II irrational
In ono OF the hotel omnibuses. had "a room as
signed her, took dinner, ordered a carnage, was
driven To the Park at her own request, and made
the terrible attempt at self destruction and
murder all In the space Of less than one hour
and \ half Of time
Acquaintance say that Mrs Danford Il n lady
OF uncAccptiOual character. and Of great person.
al worth, that she Is connected with the Trea-
aury Department AT Washington. and probahly
band. they say that lac Is a cultivated gentleman
and "A Kind husband and father, that he was q
widOwer with three children when he married
the present Mrs. d. aud the little girl now with
only explanation Of Mrs Danfords conduct
which they can conceive h. based upon supposed
domestic trouble, though there is not the faint
est suspicion of any criminal relations entering
into the matter Mrs. Danford is lady OF 10y
no means unprepns-c--ing appearance, Whllt
the little girl Is quite pretty.