Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-06
COLO PLUNGE
Of An Elegantly Dressed Young
Lady.
Mysterious Aflair-The Young
Lady with Young Step
Neither.
MXrribuus, May 5.

Il
~ N.Y.Tribune, Nay ). .NsEi G
A young woman, richly dressed and
wearing dian onds, descended from the
elevated railroad station at Sixth
ave. aud Fifty.eight street, shortly
before noon yesterday, and walked
toward the Central Park gate. She
appeared pale and excited. A 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 20 up the
Riverside Drive. AT the bridge near
Eighty sixth street, the young woman
called to the driver to stop, telling
him that she wished TO walk down to
the river. She alighted aud passed
down the stairs which go 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, laborer, who
lives in cottage on the hill at Eighty
eight street and Twsllth-ave. Navin
was going to his dinner, and as he
approached her he noticed that she
was gazing at the railroad track in
tently. She paused and turned TO-
ward him as they met.
do trains pass here often?" she
asked,
Every half hour OF So" he an
swered, thinking that she wished to
cross the track and was afraid Of being
run over. la
"HOw soon will the next train be
dueY"
mot for twenty minutes yet; but it
don't stop near here. ag
A look Of disappointment passed
over the young Woman's face, but she
continued her walk toward the river.
Navin thought it strange thata woman
so well dressed should be inquiring
about the trains at that point, when
the nearest station Of the railroad
was more than mile distant. Her
manner was so abrupt and nervous
that his suspicious were excited. He
went home to his dinner, but as the
windows of his cottage commanded a
view of the river and railroad track
he kept a watch upon the young
woman's movements. She walked
along the track little way and looked
up and down as ii anxious to catch
sight of an approaching train. Then
she went to the river bank and stood
for a moment looking at the water be-
low her. Suddenly Navin thought as
be watched her that she meant to
commit suicide; that she wished to
throw herself in front of moving
train, but that as none was approach
ing, she had determined to drown
herself. At that moment she plunged
headlong into the river. Navin
rushed from the cottage without wait.
ing to get his hat. He ran down the
pathway and across the railway
track in time to catch the young
woman as she was about to sink for
the third time. She was struggling
frsntically, and apparently was hall
unconscious. He drew her out
of tho water aud called
for assistance. The cab driver and
several other men answered the sum
mons. They carried her up the hill
and placed her in the cab, which was
then driven to the Ninety ninth street
Hospital. The woman was hysterical
and was so much beuumbed by hel
cold bath that size was unable to con.
verse for a time, but after she haC
been placed in warm bed she said tC
the surgeons that her name was Min
ME Clapp, and that she lived at No
1913 West Fourteenth street. She de
sired that telegram be sent to be-
stepmother, at that address, and to DR.
| w. Nj. Polk, her physician, at No. /;
East Thirty. fourth street. In respons,
to these kilograms, Mrs. Clapp, tn,
stepmother, drove to the hospita
about 4pm. She appeared to be YER,
little older than her stepdaughteI
The meeting between the two womer
was quiet. They held a short CONVEX
sation in French which was not IN
, derstood by the attendants, and the
{ Minnie announced her wish to retur
! home and was taken away. Previou
} to the visit Of Mrs. Clspp to the hos
/, pital the surgeons endeavored to dra'
J from the young woman some statemeL
D Of her reasons for wishing TO drow
a herself, but she refused to give an
> explanations, replying sharply to som
Of the questions. Il am not compelle
r to answer that.
{ At the house whore the Clapps liy
no information about the young woma
could be obtained last evening. 1t
a four story, brown stone buildir
/, next door to the French Hospita
j The regular occupants Of the house
q j. Burke Wolf, dealer in wines
T No. Is Beaver street, who is an unc
i, by marriage of Miss Clapp. Her faith
y is said to be Nicholas d. Clapp,
i. wealthy Frenchman, who is out oftl
city at present. His wife and daugl
: ter we're in Europe in company vii
., his son recently. The women arrive
in this city about three weeks az
having travelled together