The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-27

clothing and pulled with all MS might.
The rapids pulled against him. At last
something gave way. Conner fell back
violently, clutching fast to the rake, to
which hung part Of the girls clothing,
and the rapids carried her body over the
falls This girl did not intend to commit
suicide. She loved youth and life and
gayety. She was not morose. She was
loving. She went to the falls to out and
think out way for winning her old
place back in her sisters affection. The
waters soothed ner. She felt friend
less. They seemed to talk to her, she
grew familiar with their noises. They
fascinated her They hypnotized her.
But the moment she felt their cold cnll
and the force Of their blows, the spell
was broken and she longed for life. The
people who witnessed it said they hoped
never to see such another scene-for Della
Tansey had not meant to die, she Strug-
gled against it and pleaded for life. Yet
she had walked deliberately off the
bridge and flung herself into the rushing
waters
This case is further evidence in favor Of
DR.. Benedict's statement on Niagara as
a hypnotic influence, yet is to be noted
that the majority of victims are those
whose trouble or physical illness makes
sound and motion,
If the babblng of a brook in summer
can soothe tired brains and wornout
nerves, consider the proportion of mes
meric force in the rushing currents of
Niagara. 1t doesn't matter what the
grievance or what the ailment, Niagara
has a tune and measure to soothe and
comfort
Not long ago a school teacher named
Allison, from Cory, Pa, attempted sui
eide in the Lower Rapids. But before
the current caught her two men pulled
her out. When she recovered conscious
ness she wept and thanked God and said
the spell had been broken as soon as she
touched the water. She had been work
ing day and night and went to Niagara
for her vacation. She said the waters
soothed her at first, then fascinated her.
After that she couldn't keep away from
them, and on the evening before her de-
parture followed an ungovernable i'm
pulse and leaped in.
To people who are drunk the falls are
an irresistible attraction. In 1892 a rec
ord year for Niagara suicides, a party
of young men went over to the falls for a
hilarious outing. One Of their number
more irresponsible than the rest insisted
on trying it, from the parapet at e
brink of the American falls Again and
09c6-il HIS companions leu MN away I'M
til each was too drunk to take care of
his neighbor In the morning the man
was missing. His coat and hat hung to
the side of the parapet. There was every
reason to believe he had tried it."
The Suicide of a Priest.
Several days after that a sad-faced
priest in clerical black clothes stood for a
moment on the platform over the Whirl-
pool Rapids. Then ne raised his eyes
made the sign of the cross and leaped
He was Father James O'Donneu. Of the
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus In
New York. Religious fervor had worn
out his patience and his energy The sir
| and strife of the world had broken his
spirit. There were peace and solace in
the rushing waters.
They sang d psalm, which told of a
quick route to heaven and rest He took
It. And the waters swallowed him Sc
quickly that those who saw could scarce
~ have realized what was done, except
| that he was missing.
1t IS always tragic, however. Last Oc-
tober jauntily dressed man, who had
hung around Prospect Point for a week
sauntered through the park one rainy
morning and looked over the railing at
the Point 1t is a peculiarly Well-adapted
spot for committing suicide All one has
/
and drop. The man lighted a cigar and
sat on the rail. The cigar must have been
| a good one. fer he seemed to appreciate
it. He took deep inhalation and made
rings in spite of the rain. Two park
attendants watched him. His position on
| the rail was a hazardous one Yet he
hadn't the manner of a suicide Present
ly the cigar was smoked and he threw
away the butt. Then he tossed one leg
over the railing. The attendants came
toward him. The man lifted his brown
derby jauntily then jumped There was
no trace of him left, and his body 7-as
never found.
His Strange Last Message.
Another odd character who wore seedv
clothes and tired expression walked
into saloon near Prospect Park one
day in June and begged the use of a pen
Gil. Then he wrote: God beIss ali on
earth and hav mercy on my SOLE
The blessing was all he left when he
went over Prospect Point and it gave no
clue to his identity.
Probably love and its attendant com
pleXities have been the strongest of all
factors in working together with Mag
ara's hypnotic influence To those whose
spirits have broken beneath the ruling
passion the lurch of the aters has a
fascinating lullaby Prospect Point is a
favorlte suicide spot for disappointed
lovers.