The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-04
A Mothers Terrible struggle With q
Maniac Daughter.
POUR PERSONS PACE TO FACE WITH A Deaf
THAT SEEMED INEVITABLE.

FUN fEksoNs FACE TO FACE WITH DEATH
THAT SEEMED fN.vITARLE.
New York lIcraid.I
Mrs. stavcr and her two daughters, both
grown and one an invalid. occupy an up-
per suit OF apartments in the six-story-fIat
house No. 12l west Eleventh street. Early
yesterday morning the mother and daugli-
ters were In their rooms awaiting the arri-
val OF some friends who were 10 take the
Invalid girl TO a hospital for treat
ment. Suddenly the girl got up from
her chair, and, saying, Mamma, dear,
| cannot stay in this room; 1t
Is SO close--let me 20 for little air." ran
lightly up the stairs and disappeared
through the attic door. Theyounger sis
ter followed some time after, apparently
not fearing any danger. As she reached
the roof she was horrified 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
OF the cornice with her two hands, swung
herself over. The paved yard was six stories
below. The mother, with shrek, rushed
forward and caught the girl by the arm
Just as she was relaxing her grasp on the
cornice.
The daughter struggled violently. "Ist
me col" she cried again and again. al
want to die! want TO diet"
The mother, with q strength that seemed
supernatural. still held the girl, although
her whole weight now depended upon the
mothers grasp. But the sister came TO her
assistance and both called Historically for
aid. Their cries-"Save her! Help
help ."--rang through all the neighbor-
hood. Some children in the yard below
shreked. Men came to the windows, and
after brief look rushed for the stairs and
to the street. Everybody shouted for help.
ABRAvE woMAN's EFFORTS.
A lady in the apartment below, with a
gentleman beside her, leaned far out from
a window directly under the struggling
girl. But she could barely reach her. She
could secure slight hold upon one OF Miss
Stavers ankles, and this hold she kept at
great personal danger, somewhat checking
the hapless girls efforts to yet free from
her mothers frantic grasp. TWAS evident
TO the shuddering spectators that in mo-
ment more the strength of the women above
must give out, and that the crazed girl
must plunge down to death, carrying with
her, by her weight, the brave lady below
her, and perhaps the mother and sister.
In this supreme moment OF suspense,
above the cries OF mother and daughter
and Onlookers. the girl shrieked loudly
"Let me drop! 1t will be better for me
want to 90 !" Then young girl rushed
on the roof and gave her feeble aid to the
two ladies, and then q head and shoulders
appeared through the trap-door, and the
first OF the rescuers swung himself on to
the roof. There was glad shout and
then profound silence, except for the cries
of the maniac. In an instant he was at the
edge OF the roof, and, leaning far over, had
his arms about the girls shoulders. A Sec
ond stalwart man came to his assistance.
The mother and sister fell back fainting.
The two men slowly drew the still strug-
Cling girl over the parapet and to safety.
THE TERROR OF THE sCEEE.
A reporter Of the Herald was among the
helpless spectators in a building across the
ward. It had been a terrible sight; the
scene now was a thrilling one. On that
dizzy height, shouted against the blue
sky, the group of three stood motionless
for a moment. Then the mother and sis
ter arose and were embracing the rescued
Girl. who, dazed and now silent, seemed to
have recovered her senses. The two men
WlpeQ lne peTsplIaiIol liOil lllcli i"NCo'
| In hundreds OF windows up and down the
block men and women were weeping and
laughing at once. In an almost incredibly
brief time the roof was crowded, the
mother and daughters were helped to their
rooms. congratulations were showered
upon the two rescuers, and it seemed as il
their shoulders would be shaken out OF
their sockets. Every one wanted to take
them by the hand. Then the crowd slowly
diSDerspd