Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-01
A FOOLISH LEAP.
Ethel Day, Winslow, Attempts
Suicide After Lovers Quarrel.
Leaps from Ticonic Bridge Landing on
the Rocks Is Feet Below.
She Escapes Fatal Injuries But VIII Take an
Enforced Vacation.

Waterville, Aug. 31.-(Special). Miss
Ethel Day, aged II, an employee in the
cloth hall of the Lockwood mill, must
have wanted to die pretty badly to
have chosen the spot that she did,
this evening, in her attempt at self
destruction. It was about 7.40, this
evening, when man came flying Up
Main street. inquiring the way to the
city marshal's Office. He was directed.
He came down the stairs a few mo-
ments later, still flying and the big city
marshal was close second. The cry
went up "A woman has jumped off
Ticonic bridge" and at once there was
a rush in the direction Of that struct-
ure.
A crowd gathered at the Winslow
end Of the bridge, and everybody was
peering down into the darkness toward
the waters Of the Kennebec that
rushed, swirled and roared in a white
seething mass. Over the fence went
the city marshal and down the lodges
to see IL the woman had cleared the
AC~NS AAu AAodppNaASN IA SAC WatCi.
He and those with him came suddenly
upon the form of woman laying about
10 feet from perpendicular line of the
bridge. The woman was groaning as
in great pain.
1t was Miss Ethel Day and that she
had attempted to end her life by jump
ing from the bridge was certain. She
was taken in the arms of the big mar
shall and carried to the roadway of the
bridge and later taken to her boarding
place at George Thyngs on Sand Hill
in Winslow.
The Journal man sought to ascertain
the cause that led up to the rash act
and from Mrs. Thyng learned the fol-
lowing:
Miss Day has for some time accepted
the attentions of Fred Thyng and it
was generally understood that they
were keeping company. This evening,
both came over to Waterville. and were
walking about the city. when Fred de-
cided that he wanted to 60 to the show
in City hall. Miss Day did not want
him to go unless she could go to, but
young Thyng wanted to go with some
young friends and advised Miss Day to
go to the band concert and he would
see her after the show was out. Well,
the long and short of it all was the
couple had quarrel and separated. he
as she supposed going to the hall and
she returning toward Winslow.
AS she was crossing the TicOnic bridge,
she must have made up her mind to COM
NIT suicide. for she was seen by lady
and gentleman who were coming along
behind her. to grasp the rail. hesitate
several times and then pass along far
ther on the bridge. When Miss Day was
close to the Winslow shore and beyond
the canal dam of the Lockwood Co., she
apparently fully made up her mind to
part forever with all things earthly. for
she quickly grasped the top rail of the
guard. climbed upon 1t, and giving vent
to piercing scream, plunged of into the
darkness
In the case of Miss Day. it was she who
hesitates miscalculates. for she had pro-
ceeded too far along the bridge to make
suicide a success. Just under the bridge
the river makes sharp swerve to the
center. so that while on the upper side
Of the bridge the water Is directly in line
with the end of the bridge at the abut-
ment or nearly SO, the water turns at
once and goes to the center, leaving
shore of sharp, jagged ledge protruding
along the line of the lower side of the
Fridge for many feet toward the center
of the river. This, then, was Miss Days
the water, as she no doubt intended to
do, She fell upon the ledge after drop
or about % feet, including the guard rail.
When the injured woman was taken to
her boarding house she was in intense
pain and it was conjectured that she had
received fatal injuries, but Drs. Merton
Bessey and Bunker. who had been sent
for. by City Marshal Call. arrived early
ana made an examination, finding that
beyond few slight bruises the principal
injury was that of fractured ankle |
This injury was properly attended to and
the young woman will have an enforced
vacation but will rapidly mend.
Miss Day is pretty young woman of |
fine figure and attractive appearance gen.
orally. but is said to be of very Jealous
disposition. City Marshal Call says that
when he arrived on the scene Miss Day
had not been taken from the spot in |
which she fell and that young Thyng |
was with her. together with another |
young man. From this it would seem |
that Thyng had repented the quarrel and |
gone after the young woman.