National Republican., 1878-06-22
FATAL LEAP FOR LIBERTY.
The Tragical Death Of Smoot, the
Horse Thief.
Sequel to His Arrest IN this City Last
wcdnesday-He Attempts to Escape by
jumping from the Steamer John w.
Thompson While Eandcuncd, and
is Drowned A Desperate
Struggle for life. .Unsuccess-
full Search for the Body.

A Lconardtown correspondent of THE REPuD.
L1cAN sends the following: While Arthur d.
Smoot, prisoner in the custody of Sheriff J
Frank Smith, of st. Mary's County, Nd, was
being conveyed to Leonardtown on the steamer
john W. Thompson, on Thursday last, he at.
tempted to escape during the temporary absence
Of the sheriff from the saloon by climbing
through one Of the windows of the saloon and
Jumping overheard but, being encumbered
with the handouts which encircled his wrists
he was unable to swim, and before assistance
could be rendered him was drowned. The
particulars Of the affairs as furnished your cor.
respondent by Sheriff smith, arc as follows
smoot was arrested on Wednesday night last by
the sheriff, and lodged for the night in one OF
the police station.houscs Of Washington city
for safe keeping. Early on the morning OF
Thursday the sheriff conveyed his prisoner In
a carriage to the steamer John W. Thompson,
for the purpose Of conveying him to Leonard
town, to answer n charge Of stealing q horse,
the property Of Mr.. II. L. Burroughs, of Me.
chanicsvillc, st. Mary's County. The prisoner
during the ride to the boat, repeatedly So
licited the sheriff to remove
THE HASDCuFFs
which the latter had put on his wrists, saying
that he would make no attempt to escape ;
but the sheriff. wisely as the sequel proved,
refused TO remove them. Upon reaching the
boat the sheriff escorted his prisoner to the
saloon, where lie remained with him until the
steamer cast of her mOorings and started for
her trip down the river.
About balfp past eight o'clock a. M, break.
last having been announced the sheriff left
his prisoner In the saloon and proceeded TO the
dining.saloou Of the steamer for the purpose of
eating his breakfast. II WAS during his ab-
sencc at this time that the attempt to escape,
which resulted so fatally to the unfortunate
man, was made.
Smoot was observed by passenger to climb
through the saloon window and throw him
self overheard. This gentleman Immediately
started In search Of the captain of the steamer
to apprise him Of the fact, but that officer be.
ing at breakfast at the time. he was unable to
find him, when he rushed out upon the lower
deck and called to the pilot ap2rising him of
the fact
The pilot at once rang the signal to the en-
gineer to stop and back the steamer, but the
steamer was under such headway that some
time was consumed before she could be round.
cd to.
In the meantime, Captain Wood, hearing
the pilots signal, and knowing that something
serious had occurred. left hurredly his untin.
ished breakfast and proceeded to the upper
deck, where he was informed of the state Of
affairs. He saw Smoot
STRUGGLING IN THE WATER,
and could distinctly hear his cri,s bat rs he
was about a hundred yards astern Of the
steamer when the alarm was given, before the
boat could reach the spot he had sunk, and did
not reappear upon the surface of the water,
although the steamer was stopped for twenty
minutes about the place where he was last
seen, aud the officers and crew provided with
ropes and hooks to rescue him, should he rise
to the surface.
The steamer, at the time of the occurrence,
was passing Broad Creek, aud being behind
time was going at full speed.
The sheriff speaks in the highest praise of
the prompt efforts made by Captain Wood and
the other officers of the steamer to rescue the
unfortunate man, and says that If the pilot
could have been notified at once by the per-
sons who witnessed the attempted escape Of
the prisoner he docs not doubt that he would
have been rescued.
The prisoner Is described as very athletic
and powerfully-madc man, about SIX feet in
his stock feet and about twenty-five or
twenty-six years Of age. lie was evidently u
very good swimmer aud was observed by some
ladies and gentlemen. who were sitting on the
aft saloon deck Of the steamer after he sprang
overheard, to be- swimming upon his back as
the boat passed him, and the sheriff think
that but for his handouts he would not have
been recaptured before he could have reached
the shore