The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-04
.PLUNGES INTO ICY WATERS OF ALABAMA D. P. Smith Narrowly Escapes
 Death in Selma DRAW BRIDGE WAS OPEN Brilliant Banquet Given By Military Men of Selma-chld Badly Burned
 While Playing Near
 Fire.
DRAW BRIDGE WAS OPEN

Selma, February 3.-(Speeial.) )-Out of
 the inky darkness of night into the icy
 waters of the Alabama river falling
 through a space of fifty or sixty feet, | plunged MT. D. P. Smith last night from
 the county bridge located at this point.
 Bruised and with his leg sprained and
 possibly broken, he swan to the shore,
 landing in the rear of the Southern Ex-
 press companys office where his lusty
 cries brought rescuers to his side.
 About 10 o'clock last night the draw of
 the bridge was opened by Bridge Keeper Allen to allow the steamer Ouachita to
 pass through and pull up at the whar,. l As he was closing the bridge he heard
 cries for help from down the river ard
 investigation disclosed that man drip
 ping from a recent plunge into the icy
 waters was cllngng to the shore and | begging for help. Richard Darnen, a negro | porter in the express office, was lowered I to the edge of the river by ropes fas- tened to his body, and q boat was sent from the steamer to the aid of the half
 drowned man. He was carried back to the l steamer and a physician sent for who
 had him removed to the Selma infirmary. He told the physicians that he had gone
 down to see the boat land having tUme from his tent located on the south side
 of the river, and that he did not notice
 that the bridge was open and walked off into the river.
 The bridge keeper declares that he did
 not see anything of the man when he
 went to open the bridge, and that he put
 up the chain used to prevent vehicles and pedestrians frow walking off the bridge as usual He is of the opinion that the man, who had been drinking. had fallen asleep on the bridge, and that he did | not notice him in the shadows. That when the bridge turned the man awolSe, and in | a half-dazed way walked off the end of the draw.
 However he got into the waters of
 the river he had narrow escape from l death. He is extremely sore and bruised
 today and the physicians, while exceed
 ingly confident of his recovery do not
 say that he is out of the woods even yet
 MT. Smith is originally from Perry
 county. He is the same who a few weeks ago called the police to his as-
 sistance, saying he had been held up and
 robbed of his watch by a negro in front | of the postoffice. The watch was found
 in the middle of the street by citi-
 gen. the theory being that the highway
 man threw 1t away He is engaged in
 peddlng patent medicine and lives in ! a tent stretched about five hundred yards | south of the southern approach to the bridge.
 | Short Session or City Court.
 There was a short session of the city
 court this morning. Two cases came up
 for consideration. One against Wilson l Smith for murder was compromised, an
 agreement being reached with the solc- itor by which a verdict was brought in | for mansaughter in the second degree. | The case of Tobe Johnson was postponed until March 3rd owing to the illness of | the counsel for the defendant. Johnson l killed another negro, Aldrich Walker by name by stabbing him over the heart
 in front of O'Eylnns saloon on Washing | ton street. It was thought that Walker
 had died from heart disease but when he was being prepared for burial the | stab wound was found and it was proven
 that 1t was inflicted by 1obe Johnson.
 The other cases in which capital offense l is charged that will be tried during this session of the city court are Elizabeth McIlwaine and Callie Martin, charged
 with arson, and Sam Williams charged with murder, whose, trials are set for l February 16 and w. s. Lawrence and Lee | Bell, charged with murder whose trials are set for February 13 The McIlwaine
 and Martin negroes are charged with hay l ing set fire to the home of Miss Maggie l Blair near Valley Creek Presbyterian | church. w S. Lawrence is charged with having killed II. Beiman.
 Child Burned.
 l Yesterday afternoon while playing around fire built by wood chopper | in her parents yard, Mary, the 9-year-old l daughter of MT. and Mrs. J. l.. Clay, was severely burned. Her dress was blown | into the flames by the wind, and she was
 soon in blaze. Her grandmother heard | her cries and went to her assistance. For | tunately the flames were extinguished be- | fore they had arisen above her waist and | the child was burned only about her lower extremeties. She is doing nicely and no serious effect is feared.
 Local and General.
 | Miss Rosebud Land entertained at
 luncheon yesterday at noon in honor of