The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-06
FELL TO HER DEATH
Miss Laura Devereux
Drops Over Cliff.
Had Gone From Raleigh TO Esmeralda
Inn, Polk County, Where She
Met Her Tragic
Death.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News ana opSei Nci'l
Asheville, n. c.. Aug. 5.-Informa-
ton was received here late last night
to the effect that lady spending the
heated season at Chimley Rock had
disappeared yesterday and that large
searching party which had been
securing the mountains had failed to
lind any trace of the missing lady.
A telephone message from the Lo-
gans at Chimney Rock at noon to-
DAY confirmed the report and the
following account of the lady's dis
appearance was given.
Miss Laura Devereux arrived at
Esmeralda Inn. in the Hickorynut
Gap section. and some two miles this
side of Chimney Rock. to spend some
time in the mountains. Yesterday
morning about nine o'clock Miss
DeVereuX left the inn, presumably for
Il stroll over the mountains. At the
dinner hour she had not returned and
some alarm was felt Later in the
afternoon when Miss DevereuX falled
to appear an alarm was given and q
party organized for the purpose or
searching for the missing woman.
The search was kept up all the after
noon and last night but no trace OF
the lady could be found The te'e-
pho message stated that when Mr..
crs had left Esmeralda Inn. prepara-
tions were being made to drag the
river IN the hope of finding the re-
mains. If Miss DevereuX had been
drowned. The lady's disappearance is
said to be shrouded in mystery. From
the time she left the Inn no trace
whatever has been found of her
whereabouts or wanderings At first
it was thought that she had simply
gotten lost in the mountains but after
the searching party had covered the
ground for miles around without find
ing even a trace of her. the worst be-
gan TO be feared. This fear became a
certainty when a telephone message
received here this afternoon from
Chimney Rock said that Miss
Devereux's body had been found. 1t
was lying beneath a high precipice and
the belief is that the lady either COM
mitted suicide or accidentally fell from
the precipice. The body is said to
have been found by two young men
-'artv.
1t is stated also that n package of
partially burned letters has been
found at the top Of the cliff. below
which Miss DevereuX's body lay.
a telegram conveying the shocking
news of the death Of Miss Laura Dew
yesterday shortly alter midday.
The telegram came TO Rev. NJ. M.
Marshall rector of Christ Church. and
was from Mr.. Howard Haywood. of
Raleigh, a son of Mrs. Richard Hay
wood. who wired the sad news from
Ratcave, Henderson county. via Ashe-
Vile. The message said:
Laura Devcreux fell over cliff and
killed. Please notify family and adj
wise what disposition to make of The
body" +.s5.z =
The information was at once given
to Col. j. w. Hinsdale, whose wife is
Miss DevereuX's sister. The news was
great shock to the family and friends
OF Miss DevereuX, and there is deep
sympathy for ALL
Advices were at once sent to Mr..
Haywood to have the body embalmed
and sent to Raleigh as soon as pos
sibie. 1t is not known when it will
reach here.
Miss Devereux left last fall for a Wis
1t to Chicago and points west, where
she remained for some time. About
the last week in June she came from
Chicago to ASheVille and went to Es-
Inn in Polk county, some fiji
teen or twenty miles from Asheyille.
i ne telegram indicates that her death
came as she dashed upon the rocks at
the bottom of the cliff
Miss Devereux was between forty
five and fifty years of age and was the
daughter of the late Mr.. John Dew
creuX and a granddaughter OF the late
IT, =. Devereux. She was for years a
teacher in the Raleigh city schools,
aud the news of her tragic death will
come as a shock to the many children |
she has taught, and to her friends in |
the city and State.