New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-03
JUMPING INTO THE RIVER
MISS MINNIE CLAPP TIRED OF LIFE.

| MISS MINNIE CLAPP TIRED OF LIFE.
YOUNG WOMAN AFTER GAZING INTENTLY AT 4
| RAILWAY TRACK THINKS or suRER METHOD
OF sUICrDE-REscUgD BY A LABogHR
| A young woman, richly dressed and wearing dia-
monds de Jcended from the elevated railroad sta
ton at SIxth-ave. and Fifty eighth-st shortly be-
fore noon yesterday and walked toward the Cent
trail Park gate. She appeared pale and
excited cabman proffered the use Of his vehicle
and she engaged him to drive her through the park.
As she was entering the cab however, she suddenly
changed her mind and told him to 90 up the River
side Drive. At the bridge Eighty -sixthst., tho
young woman called TO the driver 10 stop. telling
him that she wished to walk down to the river She
alighted and passed down the stars which 90 under
the bridge. On the footpath, which leads TO the
track of the Hudson River Railroad along the shore
Of the river, she met John Navin. a laborer, who
lives in cottage on the hill at Eightyeight-st and
Twelfth-ave. Navin was going to his dinner aud
as he approached her he noticed that she gazing
at the railroad track Intently She paused and
turned toward him as they met.
"Do trains pass here often |" she asked.
Every half hour or So" he answered, thinking
that she "i,hed TO cross tho track and was afraid
of being run over.
"How soon will the next train be due'"
"Not for twenty minutes yet ; but it don't stop
near here"
A look Of disappointment passed over the young
womans face but she continued her walk toward
{ &c river. Navin thought it strange that woman
well dressed should be inquring about the trains
at that point, when the nearest station of the rail-
road more than mile distant. Her manner
was so abrupt and nervous that his suspicious wero
excited He went home to his dinner but
as the windows of his cottage commanded
view of the river and railroad track
he kept watch upon the young
wOmaus movements. She walked along the track
a little way and looked up and down as if anxious
to catch sight of an approaching train. Then she
went to the river bank and stood for moment
looking at the water nelow her. Suddenly NavIn
thought rs lie watched her that she meant 10 com
nit suicide that she wished TO throw herself IN
front of a moving train, but that none was ap-
preaching she had determined to drown herself.
At that moment she plum Ied headlong into the
river. Navm rushed from the cottage with
ont waiting to get his hat. lie ran
down the pathway and across the railroad
track in time to catch the young woman as she was
| about to sink for the third time. she strug-
Cling frant;caly, and apparently was half uncon;
sciOus. de drew her out of the wafer and called
| for assistance. The cab-drlver and several other
| men answered the summons They carried her up
| the hill and placed her in the cab, which then
| driven to the Ninety-ninth Street Hospital. The
woman was hystercal and was so much benu nbed
by her cold bath that she was unable to converse
| for time, but after she had been placed
| in warm bed she sai0 to the surgeons that
her name was Minnie Clapp, and that she lived at
| No 1873 West Fourteenth-st She desired that
telegram be TO her stepmother at that address
anu to Dr. W. NJ. Polk, her PHYSICIAN at No. is
East Thirty-fourth-s(. In response 10 these tele-
| grams. Mrs. Clapp. the stepmother, drove to tho
| hospital ABOUT p. IN. She Appeared TO be very
| It'll older than her stepdaughter. The meeting
| between tha two women was quiet. Ihey held a
snort conversation in French. which was
| not understood by the attendants, and
then Minnie announced her wish 10 return
| home and taken away. Previous
| to the visit Mrs. Clapp 10 the hospital the sur
| geons endeavored TO draw from the young woman
statement OF her reasons for wishing to drown
| herself but she refused to give any explanations,
| replying sharply TO some of the questions; Il an
| not compelled TO answer that"
At the house where the Clapps live no information
| about the young woman could be obtained last
| evening. 1t is fOur-story, brown stone building
next door To he French Hospital. The regular
cupant Of the house is j. Burke Vol dealer IN
wines at No. Is Deaver-st VINO is uncle by mar
rage OF Hiss Clapp. Her father is sad 10 be Nch0
las ID. Capp, a wealthy Frenchman who is out Of
the city at present Ills wife and daughter were in
Europe Iii company with his son recently. The
women arrived i'll this city about three weeks ago,
having travelled together.