Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-04-26
TOUCHING TRAGEDY
IN CLIFTON FORGE
Two Lovers Stopped at Stanton
And Turned Back, Plunge
To Watery Grave.

10 w dtCAy N
Staunton, Va, April ia trag'
edy that stirred the deepest feeling
of pity aud sympathy among the
people Of Stanton. and caused
heart-rendiug grief in Clifton
Forge, was reported here early in
the day Yesterday, as the culmina-
ton of d runaway match that end
ed here at 2 o'clock Yesterday
morning. Stuart Gay and Mabel
Pendleton, the actors in the TRACE
dy, lost their llyAs in Jackson's
River in the town of Clifton Forge
a few minutes after 7 o'clock yes
terday, just otter c & 0. train No.
3 reached Clifton Forge, bearing
them from Stanton where they
were stopped by the police On mes
sages from Clifton Forge, on their
way to Washington to be married,
but were turned back
It was at first thought and re-
ported that the two had jumped off
the foot.bridge by pre- arrangement
but later investigation disclosed
the fact hat this was probably a
mistake. The sirl stated here
that she dreaded to return to her
people. They we're met at Clifton
Forge by Policeman W. T. Horn
barger, who told them to return to
their homes, which they set out to
do, walking. The young man was
walking in front of the girl on the
narrow wire footbridge that spans
,Jackson's River 40 feet above the
water. Several persons saw The
girl stop, lay down her hat, then
spring over the low railing to the
water below. At the same time
the young man turned around,
threw down his hat and plunged
over after her. 1t is thought she
was seized with a sudden impulse to
destroy herself, and that he was at
tempting to rescue her, as he reach,
ed her in the water and struggled
toward the shore, but she had her
arms around his neck and finally
both went under, arose and then
disappeared. Those who saw the
occurrence were too far away tt
render any assistance, although
thew made the effort. colored man
Howard Quarles. plunging in an(
attempting to reach them but hi
was too late, and was Handicapped
by his heavy clothing.
One Of the witnesses Of the trag
edy was W. H. Hooker, brother-ln
law of the girl, with whom tn
mother resided. Another was var
conductor Woodson.
The river was dragged all da
Yesterday in an effort to recove
the bodies, aud all afternoon dyna
) mite was exploded, but withou
success up to s o'clock last night
; The young man was the son
Capt. Chas. s. Gay, at one time
resident of Staunton, and passei
ger conductor on the James klv'
. division Of the Z. & 0. he was
), years of age. He worked in IL
G. s. O. shops.
The girl was the daughter
Mrs. Matte Pendleton, a wIdo'
who makes her home with her so
e in.law and daughter, Mr.. and MI
J w. H. Hooker in Clifton Forf
e and was nearly Is years old. )
e lived with Waynesboro relativ
& and was OF, a visit to her moth
She was a native of Waynesbol
refined and bright, and those W
saw and converted with her here
Of the two hours spent here yesterd
20 morning waiting for the westbou
n =. train, thought she was the pref
N est girl they had ever seen. +
a. lovers home, and the home of |
ID sister were only few doors apa
n Their elopement was discovered
II reason Of the fact that they W
be travelling on pass obtained fir
ed Supt. Carlisle by the young n
'g for himself and Wife Some'
~ who knew Of the pass reported
n. and in. this way the plot was
us covered, There was no object
to the marriage except on
II ground Of youth.
Ia Letter to o WILSON,
&C HS,toxov Vo