Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-13

A young woman, evidently Miss Ce-.
celia Dawson. of South Market street,
committed suicide by jumping into the
river and drowning herself near the
foot of Twenty-third street last even
ing about $40 o'clock. 1t is thought
Mrs. Dawson had been in poor health
for some time past and it is thought
that while suffering from mental de-
rangements she was prompted to
end her life. Her death is surrounded
by particularly sad circumstances and
will be deeply mourned by her many
friends.
Miss Dawson, who was the daughter
of Hugh Dawson. an employe of the
Hoffman tannery, lived with her sister,
Mrs. Austin McGrail. who resides at
No. 1923 Market street.
1t is said by the relatives that her
mind became affected from an illness
about a year ago and that it was found
necessary to send her to the asylum at
Spencer last May. After receiving
treatment she appeared to recover rap
idly and was able to return to her
home about two months ago.. She
showed no symptoms of being weak
in mind, and it was thought that she
was gradually growing stronger. Yes
terday afternoon she was out shop
ping" for her sister and came home
about five o'clock. Later after speak
ing to her sister in regard to her err
rand, she put a shawl over her head
and left the house, without intimating
where she intended to go. 1t was
learned from those who witnessed the
suicide, including Owen Friery's two
sons, aged 8 and II years respectively,
and two other boys, Ben GriEsby and
Edward Brooks. that no one seemed
to notice the woman IN the bank until
she approached the waters edge and
even then she was not recognized on
account of the shawl owe her head.
After walking out on the ice a short
distance, she threw off her shawl and
jumped into the water. She went I'M
der, and after coming up, threw her
arm over a cake of ice and put her
head in the water. In this position she
loated along with the ice until near
the Hoffman sewer. when she sank
again and remained beneath the sur
face. Two unknown men who were
on the bank near the old sand derrick
at the time endeavored to rescue the
oma before she went under. but
failed, owing to the ice. One of the
men attempted to reach her with a
branch of a tree. while the other
walked out on the ice toward her, but
was finally compelled to return to the
bank. In making the trip the latter
fell and had his hand painfully cut.
At about the same time that Miss
Dawson's relatives became alarmed at
her absence from home they were no.
tll1CQ VI l1C u1D5. IL oAoUA Olt
lying on the bank was later taken by
the police to the residence of Mrs.
McGrail, who identified it as the same
garment worn by her sister when she
left home.
1t will be a difficult task to search
for her body at any point owing to the
ice in the river at present. Her father,
Hugh Dawson, who boards at No. 2251
Main street, has offered a reward of $25
for the recovery of the body. At a
late hour last night her remains had
not been found.
Miss Dawson was in the twenty
fourth year of her age and was es-
teemed by all with whom she became
acquainted. She was at one time a
pupil of Centre school. 1t is said that
her health failed while she was en-
gagged in her studies