The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-22
INTO THE RIVER.
Mad Act of Fourteen Year Old
Maude Wilson.
Tired of Life She Leaps From
Melan Bridge.
HER LIFE is SAVED
Arthur Bland, Fireman, Hero
icaIIy Goes to Rescue.
Brags the Unconscious Child
From ley Water.

II am tired OF living and I want tc
die" said IA year old Maude Wilson
as she stopped near the center of the
Melan arch bridge few moments af-
ter 1 o'clock today, land I am going to
jump into the river Throwing of
light wrap and her hat she clamb-
cred over the railing and jumped into
the water filled with floating ice. TWEEN
ty feet below before her companions
had time to realize that she meant
her threat.
The bridge at this hour of the day
| is well filed with foot passengers go
ing to and from their work and per-
haps half an hundred of them saw the
girl as she made the leap and saw her
helpless form floating in the muddy
current of the stream which at this
point is about ten feet in depth and
runs fiercely.
A street car was crossing the bridge.
northbound, and just at this time was
almost opposite the girl as she made
the leap which was noticed by several
passengers. The car was hastily run
to the north bank of the river and Ar
thur Bland, fireman from the North
Topeka station who was returning from
Frank Hendricks. ran down the bank
of the river opposite the point where
the girl was floating on the surface of
the river, bouyed up by her clothing.
Throwing off his heavy coat Arthur
Bland, the fireman, started towards the
form of the now unconscious girl and
the water at this point was but about
in he h2I
towards the bank with the current.
Picking up the unconscious girl he car
ried her to the bank where she was
taken in charge of by a hickman and
taken to the Provident association.
Bland, unconscious of his act of
heroism. returned to his home on this
side of the river and has since refused
to discuss the rescue. stating that there
was nothing to it as he only waded
out and took the girl from the water
and then changed his clothes. But
for his act the girl would undoubtedly
and almost chilled to death when she
arrived at the Proyident association.
She was Immediately taken in
charge by DR.. c B. Van Horn and his
wife and restoratives applied and
within a short time she was revived,
but refused to give any reason for her
act excepting that she is tired of living
Her father, Burd Wilson. who is rag
picker. lives at 1414 North jackson
street and the girl who today at
tempted suicide is the eldest girl in
family of seven children, the youngest
being but two months of age
s'I am just tired of living and l want
to die she said There is no boy in
the case either" she said in reply to
a question. ''T just don't want to live.
Our home was burned where we lived |
in Nebraska and we are so poor that
life is not worth living and I will De
better off dead than alive. have |
thought over this a good many times
but made up my mind to die today |
noon and went to the bridge on pur- |
pose to Jump in and I don't see why |
they took me OUT
Maude Wilson now occupies little |
white cot In a sparsely furnished room |
and DR. Van Horn and his wife are do |
ing all that they can for her and it is |
more than likely that she will survive |
her cold bath. She was recognized |
BY Mrs Van Horn soon as she was |
brought in as a former member of a |
provident associa ton sewing class who |
1uft attending the class shortly after /
cold weather set in. An investigation |
at this time revealed the fact that I
he girl was so poorly clothed that she |
could not venture out of the house. /
sh was furnished with clothing and !
since that time has attended the
North Topeka school on Quincy street.