Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-17
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
Effort of Young Woman TO Drown He
SELF in the Chesapeaise Bav.

Effort of Young Woman TO Drown Hor-
self In the Chesapeakv Bav.
Crsfield Nd, June Is. Miss Lida
U. Smith OF Hallwood, Va, attempted
TO drown herself last night by jumping
from the ateamsr Tangier Off Sbarp's
Island. A boat was lowered and Miss
smith was brought back to tho steuIner
and resuscitated.
Milton ii. Gunby, Crisfield mer-
chant, gives the following account OF
the occurrence: SAT 5 O'Clock ] went
to my stateroom and laid down in the
berth With my clothes on, as it was not
my intention OF retiring for the night.
About 0 O'CLOCK the cry of Man over
board = resounded through the stenmer.
The machinery was promptly stopped
and there was much confusion on deck.
Rushing 10 the stern. | conld see the
figure OF woman some disanoe away
on the water. making no effort to save
herself. 1t was bright moonlight at
the timr, and as the water was com :.
paratively still objects could he DIS
tInctly seen for a considerable distance.
The order was given t6 lower boat,
but the decly hands In their excitement
were fumbling with the rones, when
the mate drew his knife. cut the boat
lUubt, huu ny tut tlulu " blruGh tuo
water was inside OF it, The boat bad
TO drop distance of about 10 feet, uud
the mate leaped in while the boat was
in the air. Two men followed him,
and the drowning woman was soon
reached and drawn into the boat. IL
was Just "a minutes from the time when
the lady jumped until she was safe on
the steamer again. She was taken 10
the ladies' cabin. where Miss Gardiner
OF Marion and worked on her for 30
minutes before she recovered conscious
ness.
"When sho came to herself again l
asked her how she came to fall over
board. She replied that she did not
| fall, but jumper overheard from de-
sire to ond her life. She said she must
be made OF cork, us it was the second
attempt she had made to end her life
| by drowning. She intimRted that she
would soon make another similar at.
tempt and that she was determined ia
die. then went TO the baggage and
broke open her trunk with an axe, as
she had left her key in Baltimore. aud
brought her dry clothes. The trunk
was filled with fine clothing.n
| Miss Smith is pretty young lady
about 20 years OF age. and 1t is great
mystery why she should attempt to end
| her life.
The watohnlan on the Tapgier saw
Miss Smith when she leaped overheard.
She first put one foot over the rail.
than the other; poised herself for Q
moment ana then leaped far astern.
The wntchman cried. "Take care ol
you will fall" and started toward her.
but she had leRped before ho could
reach her. Her dress sustained hel
on the water, so that about one-third
Of her person was not submerged at all.
She endeavored to get her head under
water and drown, but found this i'm
possible, go
On reaching Cris6eld her family wal
notified by telegraph. Several messaRei
have been received here to-day from
different parties inquiring in regard IL
her. She had evidently notified bel
friends OF ber intention. Friends me
her at the buat this morning and viii
see that she reaches home in safety.
| dispatch from Onancock. Va, say
the young lady is Miss Lydia Smith
daughter of james Smith. a mechani,
who lives at Mappsvile. In the northern
part of Accomack county, Va. Fo
several years past she has been livinI
in Baltimore, being employed there a
a stenographer and typewriter.