Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-31
FOUND DEATH IN THE RIVER
Miss Bette O. Bailey Goes Over the Side of
an Alexandria Boat.
Supposed to Have Jumped Overheard
Think She Was III.

Miss bettle ~. Bailey was passenger
on the steamer Columbia when the boat
left here for Alexandria at $50 o'clock
yesterday afternoon. Although she pur-
chased a round trip ticket she had no oc-
casion to use the return coupon. for be-
fore the boat landed on the other side of
the river she had gone over the side of the
boat and disappeared beneath the surface
OF the river. No one saw just how she left
the beat, but those who had seen her just
before were satisfied that she jumped from
the steamer. The splash was heard by
some OF the passengers, and an instant be-
fore this the chambermaid in the cabin
saw a body fall past the window and she
was the first to give the alarm. Great ex-
citement prevailed among the passengers
1t was nearly dark. but some distance from
the beat floating object was seen, and
while the boat waited a dark coat foated
past. The attempt to catch the coat failed
There were many passengers on the boat,
including employees Of the Richmond and
Danville railroad and a number of Alex
andrians who are employed in the navy
yard, but they were powerless so far as
rescuing the woman or recovering her body
was concerned. Before the steamer left
the wharf Mr.. Henry Sampson noticed in
dressed, whose height seemed to be in
creased by a tall feather in her hat. After
the boat started she took a seat near the
forward door OF the upper deck and re-
served that her countenance bore traces of
tears.
A Splash and n Cry.
The steamer was Just q short distance
below the government magazine when the
sad affair happened. When the splash was
heard by passengers and boat hands and
the cry man overheard" was raised the
engine was reversed and the boat backed
to about the spot where the woman was
supposed to have gone under The life
boats were lowered and some time was
spent in the search for the body, but with
out success. and then the ferry boat con-
tinued to Alexandria. There Capt. Forrest
communicated with the authorities in this
city and the police boat Joe Blackburn"
went down to where the searchers were at
work. but the body was not found last
night.
When the cry was first raised and the
boat stopped the passengers and officers
or the boat were anxious to learn the idel-
uty OF the person who 1t was thought had
committed suicide. Two young men, who
nad noticed woman standing on the port
side of the upper deck, hastened to the
spot where they had seen her, but she was
not there. The men had noticed that the
woman seemed to be suffering from some
mental or physical trouble She stood near
the rail and had her eyes fixed upon the
water. Her attention was not attracted
to them when they walked near where she
was standing. and at Cne time one of the
young men thought of offering a helping
hand. but not knowing how he would be
received he refrained from doing so, and to-
gether they walked to another part of the
boat one of them remarking: She's got
the blues"
Her Identity Discovered.
On a chair near where the woman had
been seen shortly before she went over
board was found her pocketbook, which
was picked up by Mr.. Reed of Alexandria
In 1t was a card on which was engraved
her name, Miss Bette o. Bailey, and hast
lily written in pencil was her address, All
9Th street southwest. There was a small
amount Of money, some car tickets and
trinkets in the pocket book
When the boat returned here Information
of the sad tragedy was conveyed to her
merchant on 7th street southwest. and the
news proved a terrible shock to the men,
bers Of the family as well as to her many
friends. She had left home in the after
noon to go to her brothers house on NJ
street. but instead Of going there 1t is sup
posed she started for Alexandria. where she
had many friends.
Miss Bailey was about forty-two years
old and was we'll known in South Washing
ton. Fer several years she had been a
member of the Fifth Baptist Church She
suffered attacks of vertigo and 1t is
thought by her brother and friends that she
suffered an attack while on the boat and
fell overheard. Her father, who was a re-
spected citizen Of South Washington, died
about a year ago. He was very old and his
mind was affected. Before his death he
imagir ed that he was the democratic can
didate for the presidency and he was found
soliciting votes among citizens If Miss
Bailey really jumped overheard 1t is thought
that her mind was temporarily deranged.
n hn 1Nn vat,,
down the river and renewed the search for
the bodv