The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-18
NO EFFORTS TO SAVE HER.
Statements of Officers and
Passengers.
CLEWS TO A SAD STORY.
II Am Tired of Life; I Can't
Live Without You"
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
NEWPORT. r. l., August II. 1879.
The steamer Bristol, Captain A. g. Simmons. of the
Old Colony line left her pier at the foot of Murray
street. New York. Saturday at half past five p NJ.
bound for Fall River aud carrying about three hun
dred passengers and her full crew. The boats OF
this line said to be the largest and finest of their
class in the world. requiring 100 men to man them.
and being operated the company announces in its
published statement, by marvellously excellent
machinery. kept in perfect condition. "In regard
to provisions for safety" adds the COM
pany's circular, "the arrangements Of each
boat perfect and each steamer is provided with
all the improved life saving appliances" In view
of the unusually large complement and the presence
of call the improved life saving appliances" tmay
seem incomprehensible to the public that young
girl allowed to commit suicide by throwing her
self the railing of the Bristol of Hunts Point
in broad daylight Saturday afternoon with
out single effort being made to save her
by casting off for her rescue one
of "all the improved life saving appliances" by
lowering toat by OBTAINING the steamer
longer than few moments in the neighborhood of
the sad catastrophe. The excitement among the
passengers in consequence of the indisposition OF
the Bristols officers to attempt to save the
unfortunate girl exceedingly high. and 1t was
late in the evening before the ships quietude was
restored. From the statements Of passengers and
eye-witnesses the latter written out. duly signed
and in our possession. the story of the girls
death is as follows:-
OBVIOUSLY DESPERATE.
Among the last passengers to cross the gang plank
before the boats departure q young girl OF
about three-and- twenty, of medium height. adylike
appearance and dressed in black silk. which was
trimmed with black velvet. She wore diamond
rings and earrings. She was moro than comely In
her appearance with dark hair and complexion and
dark eyes, which, as she came board. seemed red
and swollen This evident trace Of weeping attracted
attention she crossed the gang plank. and the
purser assisted her deck ard directed her to the
cabin Shortly afterward she appeared at his win
dow and asked for ticket.
''Are you going to Boston or Newport?' he asked
her.
She paused for q moment and then said, in list
less way. EITHER place. Give me ticket to any
place to which the boat goes.
The purser says that he was surprised at the re-
mark. and eyed her narrowly. "She looked. he
said afterwards to HERALD representative. "as If
she were in deep trouble. that she was OK
tremely agitated; much SO that she was reckless
of appearances Of where she went. That woman.
1 said to myself. is under some great affection"
CRAzED WITH GRIEF.
She decided q ticket for Boston. and taking her
stateroom key in her hand she wandered about aim
| lessly for while. and returning to the window
| asked for somo writing paper and pencil. The
gave her these and she repaired to the saloon
| where she sat down and began to WRITE Here she
remained for time as though half dazcd. writ
ing in the time only three lines. slowly word by
| word, occasionally stopping to rub together
| wiring her hands and press her face between them.
The purser sat near her. watching the proceedings
| and saying to himself that she either intoxi-
| Gated or out of her mind with grief.
'And what was your conclusionf said the HERALD
| representative to him to-day.
after watching her closely made up my mind
| that she was insane
Presently she walked back to the window of the
ticket Office and rendered her key and pocketbook.
| The purser followed her and as she passed them in
for safe keeping he urged her to take back the key
| and go to her room.
She refused. SAYING "No. don't want it. not just
| now" and turning quickly walked away.
| As she crossed tine cabin she paused. seemed to
| think moment. turned rapidly. and retracing her
| steps, came back to the window. Have you my
| name DOWN. she asked. Tho purser answered that
he had. She leaving when again she turned aud
| said -
You sure you have it down risht'"
"Weil, please read it to me-"
| Turning to the botter the officer read "Ariss
Eyes. that is right" sho said-"quite right"
''I AN ALL ALONE.
| She wont up to the main saloon. Hero occurred
error No. 1; tho purscr did not follow her. although
| struck by the whole performance extraor-
binary one Bnt lot us not count No. l. Grayer
| errors followed. In the saloon her unhappy face
drew the attention of many OF the passengers. Ono
| lady noar whom she seated sat Watching her
closely and noticing it, she looked up and said, II
| am all alone. entirely alone;
80 l." said the lady. "IIow far arc you
IL am alone" she repeated. "but 1 nearly at
| my journey end now.
fLoIf 40, Tho re ANa h,,f
turned and crossed the saloon TO the opposite
| board door. opening on the starboard deck aud
looked over into the water. She returned to the
saloon and taking off her coat. laid it down the
chair and passed through the port door and out on
the port deck On the deck at the railing stood two
gentlemen As she leaned over the rail and looked
| down into the water Of thcm said to hor "Iook
out. miss; if you lean over so far you viii fali'
without word she threw herself over the rail.
| struck heavily on the guard OF the deck below rs
she passed it and fell into the water. gentleman
who stood her when she fell ran into the saloon
at once and notified colorcd waiter or hall man in
the main saloon that woman had fallen overheard
and told him to the boat stopped instantly The
waiter went forward and the gentleman hurried on
| and gave the alarm to two deck hands. but
| he saws that they did nothing when thoy
heard it, The purser, who was on the
lower deck heard the noise occasioned by the acct
| dent and saw the steward running forward. Learn.
ing the suse he hurried to the signal bell the
| MT ranuway placed there for such an emergency,
| and a few feet from where he stood. and sgnacd
the engineer to stop the engine The steward In the
meantime had hascncd to the pilot house. where
| the captain had stationed himself The captain.
| noticing that the engine had stopped, supposed he
saws tina, passenger had pulled the art bell by
| mistake and he gave the signal to the engineer to
| ego ahead" AN order which was obeyod.
| LEFT DROWN.
| When the steward reached him with tho intelli-
| pence of the accident he had the engine again
stopped instantly but the boat he'd far ovcr
| n mile he says from the place whore the girl
| jumped overboard), and the current going so
| strong that he considered IL useless to put out
boat especially M he concluded that she had struck
the guard rail OF the lower deck with sufficient force
TO have killed her. The captain holds that she
not seen to rise after first going down, that the
| rowness of the channel and the close proximity
| of smaller boats made lying to dangerous.
| ~ not an impossibiity under the circumstances.
| unless he had anchored the vessel. and he not
sure that even the latter proceeding could DO