Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-30
UNITED m A DEATH LEAP.
Young Lovers With Arms Entwined,
Jump From Precipice.
A Father Forbade Marriage, But
the Rash School Boy, IN Fun
View of His Stern Parent, Mace
the Awful Plunge With His
Sweetheart.

Wow "a lis AlLN4 "A - ~
the Awful Plunge With his
Sweetheart.
Nashville. Tenn, August 29.-Iheir
marriage having been forbidden by the
boys father. Carl French, a youngster
scarcely out of his teens, and Helen
Hunt. his petite sweetheart clasped
their arms around each other and leap
ed over a precipiee to instant dea'h
this afternoon.
The devoted young pair hao ue'e'
mined that their souls should be unlteu
in eternity regardless Of the parental
decree that separated them on earth.
The scene of the tragic ending OF
their romance was in the mountains OF
White county, near the summer resort
and mining town Bonair, about lVo
miles from Nashville The rock from
which the lovers jumed is 100 feet
high.
Young French appeared in Bonair
three months ago. He came from In
dianapolis. Ind. TO spend his vacation
anoung the mountains, and he met
Helen Hunt soon after his arrival She
was the daughter Of Allen Hunt
ve1I-to-do miner. and was beautiful
and accomplished.
Report in Bonair has it that the girl
at first turned a deaf ear 90 the love
making of the schoolboy. He was per-
sistent. however, and the girl recently
consented TO an engagement Their
wedding was set to take place within
a month. 1t was all to be kent Sc
cret from the parents Of the prospec-
tive bridegroom until the ceremony
had been performed.
BOYs FATHER FORBADE 1T.
The Young mans father arrived
from Indianapolis on Saturday, to the
CONSERVATION Of his son. Some one
had written to Mr.. French, informing
him Of the interesting situation. After
the first greeting was over Mr.. French
said:
carl. I have come to take you
home"
This announcement came like thun-
derbolt to the young over. He begged
his father to allow him TO marry
Helen. and when Mr.. French, after
stormy interview, declined TO consider
such a proposition. the boy declared
that he would marry her or commit
suicide.
Mr.. French kept the boy under close
surveillance. Carl begged to be al
lowed to see his sweetheart once more.
ct must say goodbye to her. he
said.
4 Mr.. French relented to the extent OF
49, a last interview. but he Up
hIated that the two we're not to go out
De his sight. 1t was late when the two
beart-broken lovers met. They were
allowed by Mr.. French to walk to sun
set Park. the father following at the
resnectful distance Of about forty feet.
LEAPED WITH ARMS ENTWINED.
The lovers walked TO the north side
pf the park. They reached the big
bluff overlooking the deep precipice,
and seemed TO be engaged in earnest
conversation.
The girl leaned forward and peered
for a second into the depths. Then
she drew back and put her hand in
the hand Of her lover. The two then
Embraced and with arms entwined
Rbout each other, together leaped over
the precipice.
Mr.. French. who had been keeping a
watch upon them, darted forward with
a wild cry of terror and grief He
looked over the blum, and far below
he saw the two bodies. As quickly as
he could he climbed down the blum.
The boy was dead. His neck had
been broken. The girls head was
crushed and she was internally injured.
She died in a few moments.
Mr.. French gave the alarm, and
help was quickly at hand. The bodies
Of the two lovers were conveyed to
the home Of the girls parents.
The parents of both of the victims
are nearly crazed with grief The
entire community is excited by the
tragedy. and each little incident in the
acouaintanceship Of the lovers is ten
derly recalled.
Side by side the two will be buried
IN the old Bonair cemetery. Mr..
French saying he did not have the
heart to separate them.
WRECKED BY SPREADING RAILS. /