The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-09-25
The New York So Says Mrs, Macarthur
Vas Thrown Overheard.
A SINGULAR STORY FROM GOTHAM.
Tho sun Claims snm, The Affair Was
an Amusing Trnnd One St II
Most Successful Fakes Ever Yer
pctrated FciSucd Ircon>cious.
ness and Fooled thc Police.

bridge jump is thus told by tho New
York Sun:
Mrs. McArthur's husband is an OK
prize fighter, and two of his intimate
Friends are Jack Smith. also an eX-pugi-
FIST, and William Hartman, II Harlem
fte. Smith and Hartman got up the
scheme. II it was suggested that Mrs.
HloArthur enact the role Of the jump
FER. Macarthur pleaded that his vito
couldn't swim astroke and was mortally
iafraid 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
wct and then feign Inconsistencies for
b time, They'd fix up the rest of tho
scheme, he said.
MIS-. Macarthur was approached on
Tho matter, and after u good deal of
hesitation she agreed to do her part.
Then Smith and Hartman got John j.
Ha8fIgan, Z SAXON keeper, Interested in
Sho scheme. They told Halligan. how
ever, that Mn. Macarthur would really
mako the jump, and he agreed to pay
All incidental expenses and to back Mrs.
McArthur i'll q theatrical teur after the
papers had'mude her famous. In return
he was to receive 70. per cent of Mrs.
IMoArthur's salary as an actress. Later
at was decided that there was moro
money and less risk in putting Mrs. Nc
arthur In Il museum as u freak, and ac-
cordlrgiy an agreement was signed with
a BoWory .muscum proprietor whereby
Mrs. Mcasrthur was to he exhibited ut n
weekly siGlary of'$l00, while Smith and
Hartman'Nvere TO pose as life savers at
$aJa week rnch.
In order to fool Halligan, Mrs. Me
Arthur was taken daily toa boathousc
on the Harlem river and allowed to
Houndhr about i'll three or four feet of
water, IL one day, after scoing her 20
Though tins exercise, Halligan was so
deeply Impressed with her ability that
he went ont and bet So, 900 that she
would really jump from the bridge.
When the day for the jump came.
Mrs. Macarthur mrayCd herself in uueat
swimming costume, weighted her legs
with bags Of and and drove down to
the bridge with HARTMAN and Smith.
1hey crossed to tho Brooklyn side and
then drove to'G dock where Smith had
arranged to l4ave a boat in waiting. All
three got III the boat and rOwed ont into
mlustrealn. At signal from Smith
some one whose identity is still wrap.
ped IN mystery, but'who, it is suspect
ed, was Air. Macarthur, dropped u dunn
4nS rom lae prloSe' and then Smith
soiu MIS- NiVA fthur tofalllnto tho river
rom ''heNohck OF the boat. Mrs. Near
.hur' "alo haa ~heeh'Settins very pale as
'he,''hi" lof her act approached, looked
az Iho water ana sand that she guessed
sheG hHd enough.
WHIT ga'pod smith. DO you
A4V"I 'osfoii everything now
L., l can Ets"lm a'etrnke' and it's ter
Aoi4 oiu pie"led AIRS Macarthur.
lump Elght ~ MI. We'll hanl You
$ souV' saii hartman. ltlloe all over
il'Apve'
Aoun'V "'ai' 'G' sa'd tho woman.
h"H sue oeeali' to'cry.
LIu must ana right away too
s ID tNiah' ana gIaooing the fright
sheu woman ne heltstlor Whrle Smith
u.ateneu rope afonnd herwaist. Then.
,"iEnouV a'SlVof cereMony,jh threw her
Then Smith hauled them hoth In, aud
t ,ao men L roy fomeu TO snotNeT York shore
whefe oaH was sent 1n'for an ambu-
$50 . lhIs 'ime On MRS. Near
W piaseu he.FPatt "s'innF''ly
. Le'sneu nhcohSoiaoshess and
-oI!ear ainpli"nGo surgeon ana the
80 cHhiP1"'caH Mhcif she had recov-