Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-06
WITH sUpEuMUMAN STRENGTH.
a Mothers Terrible Struggle with u
Maniac Daughter.
From the New York Herald, Tuesday,

From the New York Herald, tuesday,
Mr.. Staver and her two daughters, both
grown and one an invalid, occupy an upper
suit OF apartments In the six story flat house
No. 12l West Eleventh street. Early ycster-
day morning the mother and daughters were
III their rooms awaiting the arrival of some
friends who were to take the invalid girl to
hospital for treatment. Suddenly the girl
got up from her chair, and, saying, MAN.
ma, dear, l cannot stay in this room ; ii is so
close-lct me 20 for a little air. ran lightly
up the stairs and disappeared through the
attic door. The younger sister followed
some time after, apparently not fearing any
danger AS she reached the roof she was
Mortified to see the girl sitting on the coping
She called her mother, and as the latter
reached the roof the girl bending down
and catching hold with her two hands swung
herself over. The paved yard was six stories
below. The mother, win shrek, rushed
forward and caught the girl by the arm Just
as she was relaxing her gasp on the cornice.
The daughter struggled violently. ''Let
me CO. she cried again ard again. II want
to die! want TO die.
The mother, with strength that seemed
supernatural, still held the girl, ath ugh her
whole weight now depended upon the
mothers grasp. But the sister came to her
aid. Their ries --"Save her! Help, help ~
rang through all tho nci. hboihood. Some
children in the yad below shrieked Men
| came to the windows, aud, after brief look,
rushed for the stairs and 10 the street.
Everybody shouted for help.
4 Brave Wonan's Effort.
\ lady in the apartment below with q
| gentleman beside her, leancI far out from a
window directly under the struggling girl.
| But she could hardly reach her She could
| secure slight hold upon one OF Miss Staver's
ankles, and this hold she kept at great per.
| sonal danger, somewhat checking the hap
less girls efforts to get free from her moth.
ets frantic grasp. 1t was evident 10 the
shuddering spectators that in moment more
the strength of the women above must give
out and that the crazed girl must plunge
down to death, carrying with her, by hel
weight, the bravo lacy below her, and per.
haps the mother and sister. In this supreme
moment of suspense, above the cries 81
mother and daughter and onlookcrs, The
girl sbrieked loudly-"Let me drop
1t will be better for nc. want tc
co. Then young girl rushed on the ROOT
and gave her feeble aid to the two ladies, ant
then head AMI shoulders appeared through
the trap door aud the first of the rcscuer,
| swung himself on the ROOF. lherc was glat
shout and theu profound silence, except fol
the cries of the maniac. In an instant he wa
at the edge of the roof, and, leaning far over
had his arms about the girls shoulders.
second stalwart man cam to his assistance
The mother and sister fell back fanting
The two men slowly drew the still struggling
girl over the parapet and to safety.
| Tho Terror Of the Scene.
A reporter of the Herald was among thu
helpless spectators in building across TIN
yard. 1t had been terrible sight; the seen,
now was a thrilling one. On that dzz'
height, silhouetted against the blue sky, tn,
group of three stood motionless for mo
ment. Then the mother aud sister arose AN,
were embracing the rescued girl, who, daze,
and now silent, seemed to have recovere,
her senses. The two men wiped the per
spiration from their faces. In hundreds o
windows up and down the block men an,
women were weeping and laughing at once
In an almost incredibly brief time the roo
was crowded, the mother and daughter
were helped to their rooms, congratulation
were showered upon the two rescuers, and
seemed as il their shoulders would be shaker
out of their sockets. Every one wanted I
take them by the hand. Then the crow
slowly dispersed.