Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-01
IN OHIO RIVER ROMANCE.
AEGirl Crossing the Stream with her
Convict Lover i Drowned.

Convict Lover i Drowned
William Smedley is the pilot of the GOV.
eminent TUG Emma Etheridge. saws 2
Louisville dispatch. He has given to !
reporter the particulars OF a romantic adj
venture with tragic sequel which came
under his o1serFa alton about I o'clock
Tuesday morning in the Ohio river. He
said: 'Our boat was somewhat behind
time, and we were plOwIng up the Cur
rent 3t q IA stroke. The night was very
dark and a slight drizzle of
rain was falling. We had reached
point about eleven miles this
sid. Of >haWneetOwn, H.. when the
Waterman Who was on duty on the fore
deck saw what he considered a lOg float
ing ou the surface Of the water about 100
Yards before Us. He watched the SIM
posed i1S. and as We drew nearer ais
covered that the object which had at-
trlcted ms attention was a skiff. and that
DC carried four persons. He ran info tho
engine room ana sigualled to the oncsinaa,
to SHUT on the steam. Then he returned
~ the bow Of the boat Just i'm time To SO
three men plunge into the water and
leave woman in the skiff. The npvt
moment the boat rushed upon the frafI
craft and the woman and skiT went
under the water. The boat was stoned
and line thrown out 20 the parties
Uaa We're battling to keep above the
Co the boat. and then an effort
was made To recover the body of the lady.
A1ar few minutes the skiff rose to tba +
surface near the side Of the steamer. bIlt
tla ldi- passenger was gone. The rescued
parties We're sOreiy grieVed. and Mr.
-medley SAYS that. by way Of consolation. .
le spoke 10 the eldest one Of the partv .
ana inquired the cause OF mis- discontinue.
lta was told that the woman who had
Boon drowned was his daughter and that
her name was smith and his home was
u mon county. Himself. his son and
his daughter. he said. had crossed the
river o. the illinois side that night to meet
% man who once lived i'm Union county. brt
who removed % Illinois, and there cot
hs# some dlifcuity and was sentenced
90 ine penltentlary. About a week ago
DE made his escape from Joliet and they
We're notified where and when to meet
huns and bring him over 10 Kentucky. He
was engaged to he married TO tne old
MANS daughter. and for this reason She
was 1Ct satisfied unless she accompanied
.la party. They reached the opposite
bans and found the man in waiting. In
ct-rning- they had almost reached the
middle o.; the river and We're i'm the swift
81 current. when luck turned against
hcu, aud one Of their oars broke theY
could, DO nothing. at least al"Ist HoJElnE,
and gIL-u thew "a " tho steamer coming.
lc-du - signal distress 10y screaming.
Their voice were drowned In the roar of
he waters. They cluug 10 the skitf until
jeath was upon them and they took their
-hauCe- by jumping into the stream. The
laughter refused to follow. and chung 10
Inc skis with an IRON grasp. Her screams
.Culd be heard as the boat glided upon
ler aud swept her under the water" Mr..
Sme,llev saws that i'm the excitement ne .
orzOt ID inquire the name Of the escaped
convict The fellow -skulked in a dark
-orncr while old man smith was telling
MS story The boat made a landing and
hc parties We're all put ashore. Mr..
,mediev says that the story Of the escaped
.ouyic- sounded "a little strange i'm his
.a-s. ut that the old man related his
narrative in such simple, Unhesitating
way laat he was forced 10 place credence
D. wDa- he said