Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-09
AeIRL ON THE coW-cATCHER.
She Was Pretty Runaway Maude Abbott.
of Bucksport, Me.

A Bangor Me telegram says: The great
est sensation in Eastern Maine this week
has been caused by the remarkable eX-
ploits Of Maude Abbott, the pretty girl of
nineteen years who attempted 20 commit
suicide by shooting three weeks ago be-
cause her parents wouldn't allow her to
marry. Yesterday the girl had made such
progress towards recovery that her attend
ing physicians decided that 1t would be
safe to allow her 10 be removed TO her
home in Bucksport. Her parents, who arc
very prominent people in this section,
came TO the city on an early tram. but
much TO their surprise she positively re-
fused 10 90 with them. The services
OF the police were called, and the entire
party stormed the Sprasue domicile, where
the rirl has been during her illness.
An officer entered first, and Sprague, who
is n large. muscular fellow. struck him a
terrible blow IN the face, knocking HIM
down and bringing blood. The lord Of the
mansion was then placed where he could
do no harm and attention given 10 the girl,
who. although white, and to all appear
ances faint from the effects OF her illness,
fought like q tigress. She scratched ana
kicked the officers and her father. She got
herself into position where she could
fasteu her teeth in the latter's hand. The
vixen was finally pinoned and carried to u
carriage and lifted upon the back seat, but
succeeded in squirming upon the moor OF
the vehicle. Her resOlUte parents entered
the carriage, and throwing a shawl over
the girls shoulders directed the driver to
start for Bucksport.
10 was supposed that her flight would
effect her wounds, and that the result
might prove fatal but such was not the
case. She declared during the whole jour
nev that she would escape and return 10
Spraguc. She would rather de than not live
with him, but she was not supposed 10 have
sufficient strength 10 carry out her threat.
Her people evidently underesumated her
powers. for this morning before the tram
which leaves buckspOrt for Bangor at D
o'clock had started, the tralnnen were
surprised 10 see "a grlish figure come fly
ing down TO the depot. IL was Maude Abb
bolt, who had escaped from her home and
ran hatlcss and scarcely dressed distance
of two miles.
The train was Just moving as the girl
reached the depot and, deathiy pale from
her violent cXortlOn, she jumped upon the
pilot of the locomotive She had scarcely
landed there when the engineer, who was
so startled at the queer performance that
he did not even think to stop TO have her
taken from her precarous condition, saw
her father coming in hot pursuit. lie cried,
stop that tram and give me my girl.
The mad runaway saw him at the same
time, and with "a look Of determination
flashing from her eyes she jumped from
the train down an emhankment and started
for the river. Her father had run all the
way from home and was only about half
dressed and breathless from the excrtlOn,
hut he continued his pursuit. knowing that
the girl would certainly throw herself INTO
the river. He caught her Just as she had
reached the wharf. She was so exhausted
that she fell back into his arms. She soon
permitted herself to be conducted 10 a
carriage, but wanted to be allowed to drive
home alone. The privilege was refused.
The gi1l will now be placed in close con-
finement until her parents are better able
to control her. Her peculiar actions for
the past two days have led many persons
TO think that her lifein Bangor for the past
few months may have partially deranGed
| her mind. Her eyes are continually Hash
ing. One moment she is laughing and the
next she is raving TO return TO this city
and her lover. Her friends and those who
best know her, however, declare that her
actions are the result of sheer wiliulness
and that little wholesome discipline will
cause her to cease being 50 erratlc and
succtaCular