Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-10-18
4 FAKE BRIDGE JUMP
rHE NEW YORK SUN SAYS MRS. MAR
 THUR WAS THROWN ovERBoARD. l

xsnt if You See 1t In The Sun It Is Not a1wavs Ses-Claims That the Affair Wac an Amusing Fraud-A Singular Story From Gotham.
 The story of the latest Brooklyn bridge jump is thus told by the New York Sun
 Mrs. McArthur's husband is an ex- nrize fighter, and two of his intimate friends are Jack Smith, also an ex-pugi- 1iet and William Hartman, Harlem ;ta Smith and Hartman got up the scheme. and it was suggested that Mrs. McArthur enact the role of the jump or McArthur pleaded that his wife couldn't swim stroke and was mortally afraid of the water, but Smith said that that didn't matter, as all she'd have to do was to allow herself to get good and wet and then feign unconsciousness for a time. They'd fix up the rest of the scheme, he said
 Mrs. McArthur was approached on inc matter, and after good deal of hesitation she agreed to do her part. Then Smith and Hartman got John J. Halligan, saloon keeper, interested i'll tbe scheme They told Halligan, how ever. that Mrs. McArthur would really make the jump, and he agreed to pay all incidental expenses and to back Mrs &McArthur ill theatrical tour after the $naners had made her famous. In return be was to receive 75 per cent of Mrs. & McArthur's salary as an actress Later 8it was decided that there was more # #money and less risk in putting Mrs. Me #Artbur in a museum as freak, and &C., an agreement was signed with Sa Bowery museum proprietor whereby z<AIrs McArthur was to be exhibited at sweekly salary of $100, while Smith and Hartman were to pose as life savers at $25 a week each.
 # In order to fool Halligan, Mrs. Mo "a rthur was taken daily to boathouse znn the Harlem river and allowed to 5Hounder about in three or four feet of |IzRater, and one day, after seeing her go fhrough this exercise, Halligan was so *aeeply impressed with her ability that 7 be went out and bet $2,00 that she would really jump from the bridge
 When the day for the jump came, zz4frs. McArthur arrayed herself in neat Swimming costume, weighted her legs ith bags of sand and drove down to < fbe bridge with Hartman and Smith. fhey crossed to the Brooklyn side and {hen drove to a dock where Smith had Mranged to have boat ill waiting. All ffree got in the boat and rowed out into lnidstream. At signal from Smith Nome one, whose identity is still wrap fed in mystery, but who, it is suspect ga was MT. .MeArthnr, dropped dum- IEg from the bridge, and then Smith S1old Mrs MeArthur to fall into the river ifom the back of the boat. Mrs. McAr- zzAnr, who had been getting very pale as 6e time for her act approached, looked b had enough.
 Whatl'' gasped Smith, "Do you fan to spoil everything now?"
 I can swim a stroke, and it's ter kly coldl" pleaded Mrs McArthur
 Jump right in, and we'll haul you said Hartman. "It'll be all over "a minute. ,
 don t want to- - said the woman,
 she began to cry.
 You must, and right away too, ;
 Hartman, and grabbing the fright woman he held her while Smith ened 8 rope around her waist. Then, bout bit of ceremony, he threw her the river and jumped ill after her.
 n Smith hauled them both in, and
 men rowed to the New York shore, ere call was sent in for an ambu- ke From this time on Mrs McAr-
 played her part admirably.
 be feigned inconsistencies and
 Pd the ambulance surgeon and the
 ee completely. When she had recov-
 and was ready to receive reporters,
 Fold of the sensations experienced
 bridge jumper with remarkable
 Eibllity, and the next day was ex-
 ed ln all of the papers as truly
 lrkable woman.
 Was one of the most successful
 ever perpetrated, and the only
 Ike that Messrs. Smith and Hart
 made was not providing some sort
 ployment for MT McArthur It
 esan to dawn on that worthy that
 As out 1n the cold when the affair
 il over, and in great indignation
 Fne to Halligan and demanded that
 exhlblted ill the museum as life
 With Smith and Hartman.
 oton your life!'' said Halligan.
 re no life saver. You didn't save
 oman's life. ,
 elther did they,'' replied McAr-
 ean?''
 st what I say" replied McAr-
 Fnd then he told Halligan the
 story of the imposition. Halligan
 smith, who acknowledged the
 McArthur's statement, and then
 von keeper made both men make
 ' eo the effect that Mrs. McAr-
 V hot jumped from the bridge.
 t sent for tba ,,,,,, e-,...x x.,l~ 1.,x,