The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-11

Woman on q Ferry boat at st. Louis Pitches
Her Two Young Children Into the Rivel
and Then Leaps in After Tbem-She Ii
Never Seen to Rise to the Surface, Blu
the Children are Rescued and vii
Probably overwhelmingly Hanging
Day Set for June 11-CrIme aud Ca.
| tastrophc.
ST. Louis, April 1o-An unknown wo-
| man threw her two little children into
| the river this forenoon from the ferry
| boat DR.. Hill, and then plunged after
them. The children were rescued, but
the woman was drowned. The only clue
TO her identity vase note inside her hat
band, which read: Send TO Mrs. Bertha
Jost, 2537 North Market street"
The Dr. Hill is regular ferry boat
running between East Carondelet and
Davis street, East st. Louis. The boat
left its landing at Carondelet on its 80
trip with a fair load of passengers on
board Among them was a woman with
two little children, one boy about 3
and the other a girl about 5 years of age.
The woman appeared TO be between 30
and 40 years old. She was heavily built.
dark skinned and we'll dressed. The
Children were neatly clothed and very
attractive.
AS the boat neared the Missouri shore.
the woman, who had edged her way to
the rail- picked up one of the children
and threw it into the muddy stream and
it disappeared with a faint scream. So
paralyzed were fhe other passengers on
the Dr. Hill that they simply gaZed a;
the mad woman. They saw her stoop
again and seize the other girl. The child
struggled, but she was lifted high above
the mothers head and tossed into the
churning water Then with a loud cry,
the mother sprang through the gate on
the boats side and leaped overheard.
Captain Keller had by this time be-
come aware OF the tragedy that was
transpiring. He reversed his engine, but
before any steps for rescue could be
taken a boat darted out from the land
ing. In it was Michael Bradley, a
fisherman, who pulled TO the spot where
the children went down. When they ap-
peared, he pulled them into the boat.
The mother did not rise again. Both the
children, who were unconscious, We're
taken to the dispensary in a critical con-
dition.
The mother was evidently crazy.
A call at the house number found IN
rhe woman's hat resulted in the discov-
Al
The children are now in the city hos
pital where they were revived and their
recovery is expected. Before being res
cued they floated down the river for the
distance Of a mile.
DURRANT'S DAY TO HANG.
San Francisco, April 10.-Theodore
Durrant Was this morning. for the sec
ond time, sentenced 20 be hanged for the
murder of Blanche Lamont, in Emanuel
church, two years ago. He will be
hanged at San Quentin prison, on
June II.
P1NGREE ACQUITS HIM.
New York. April 10.-Governor Pin
gree OF Michigan refuses TO recognize the
requisition upon him, issued by Cover
nor Black of this state, for Sheriff Ed
ward 7. Ferguson of Lenawee county,
Michigan. 1t is reported here that Gov
ernor Pingree said that Sheriff Ferguson
is too decent man to be taken back to
New York as criminal
BOARD OF TRADE CLOSED.
New York, April 10-On a warrant is
sued by Magistrate Mott, Chief of Police
Collins private staff have closed the
open board Of trade at 46 Broad street.
BARN BURNS IN ST. JOE.
s.. Joseph. Mo, April 10.-Fire broke
out at noon in the barn OF the A. NJ.
Brown Transfer company. One fine
horse, twenty car loads Of hay and the
building were burned. The total loss is
about $4,000; partly covered by insur-
ance.