The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-29
YOUNG LOVERS DEATH LEAP
Marriage Forbidden By the Fa-
ther of the Boy.
IN HIS SIGHT THEY JUMPED
Over Precipice With Arms Entwined About
Each Other Tragic End of Sum-
mer Romance
Side by Side.
IN HIS SIGHT THEY JUMPED

/ BY Telegraph to the New York Herald.
Nashville Tenn, Aug. 26, 1s97.-With
arms clasped about each other. Carl
/ French, a boy scarcely out of his teens,
and Helm Hunt, his pretty sweetheart,
yesterday afternoon leaped over a preci-
I pice to instant death. It was the tragic
union in eternity of two souls that were
not permitted to be joined ON earth.
The scene of the awful ending of their
romance was in the mountains of White
county, near the little summer resort
and mining town of Bonair, about one
hundred miles from Nashville. The rock
E from which thu lovers jumped is 100 feet
1 high.
Young French appeared in Bonair
three months ago. He came from India
I napoHs. Ind, to spend his vacation in
the mountains, and he met Helen Hunt
soon after his arrival, She was the
daughter faAllen, Hunt, a WILL to do
miner, and was beautiful and accom-
plished. Report in Bonair has it that the
girl at first turned a deaf ear to the love-
making of the school boy.
He was persistent, however, and tbs
girl recently consented to an engage
ment. Their wedding was set to take
place within a month. 1t was all to be
kept a secret from the parents of the
prospective bridegroom until the cere-
mony had been performed.
The young mans father arrived from
Indianapolis on Saturday, to the conster-
nation of his son. Some one had written
to Mr.. FIR: nch informing him of the in
teresting situation. After the first greet
ing was over Mr.. French said:
Carl, have come to take you home"
This announcement came like a thun-
derbolt to the young lovsr. He begged
his father to allow him to marry Helm,
and when Mr.. French declined to con-
slider such a proposition the boy de-
clared that he would marry her or COM
nit suicide. The interview, as may be
judged, was stormy one.
Mr.. French kept the boy under close
surveillance. Today was set as the time
for the journey home. Yesterday Carl
begged to be allowed to see his sweet
heart once more.
II must say goodbye to her. he said.
Mr.. French rslented to the extent OF
allowing a last interview, but he stipu-
lated that the two were not to go out
of his sight. Tt was late yesterday after
noon when the two heart-broken lovers
met. THY were allowed by Mr.. Wrench
to walk to Sunset Park, the fatfar fol-
lowing at the respectful distance of
about forty feet.
The lovers walked to the north side
of the park They reachsd the big bluff
overlooking the deep precipice and SEEM
ed to be engaged in earnest conversation.
The girl leaned forward and pacred for
a second into the depths.
Then she drew back and put her hand
into the hand of her lover. The two then
embraced, and, with arms entwined
about each other, together leaped over
the precipice.
/ Mr.. French, who had been keeping
swatch upon them, darted forward with
| a wild cry of terror and grief. He looked
gover the bluff, and far below he saw the
stwo bodies. AS quickly as he could he
climbed down the bluff.
/ The boy was dead. His neck had been
|gbroken. The girls head was crushed and
she was internally injured. She died in
a few moments
Mr.. French gave the alarm and help
twas quickly at hand The bodies of the
Istwo lovers were conveyed to the home
1ofi tbs girls parents.
The parents of both of the victims are
fnearly crazed with grief. The entire
community is excited by the tragedy and
i each little Incident in the Acquaintance
! ship of the lovers is tenderly recalled.
| The funeral services over the two bod
les took place at tbs Methodist church
this morning. The church was filled to
. overlooking, and the two caskets were
/ literally covered with flowers. Side by
side the two were buri=d in the old Bon
| air cemetery, Mr.. French saying he did
! not have the heart to separate them.