Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-12-05
CATAWISSA GIRL
browns HERSELF

Flfteen year old Lucy Smith, daugh-
Ter OF Mr. aud Mrs. Phineas Smith, of
RAILROAD street, Catawissa. committed
suicide Monday morning by jumpine
into the Susquehanna "A short distance
above the Catawissa river bridge Her
body has not yet been recovered, al
though the river has been grapnlet
and dynamited from the place sbe
Jumped i'll to what is known as the
Cove" several hundred yards below.
1t is said to be another case of sui
eide for affection, Although only ff-
teen years of age this girl rather than
give up the one she was devoted to.
and to whom her parents objected.
sought the depths of the cruel, cold
river as her only solace.
For some time past the girl has been
Keeping company with young man
and to whom the parents objected
On Saturday evening while Mr.. and
Mrs. Smith were out of town the
young man called at the girls home.
This action on her part was the cause
OF reprimand from her parents Mon
day morning. Although the girl
made no reply she seemed to be down
hearted and left the house SAYING she
was going out in the back yard, and
that she would not go to her work at
the shoe factory that day.
1t was about half past six when she
left the house and not returning with
in reasonable time her father sent a
brother out to look for her He could
not find his daughter in the yard. but
IN the snow he saw tracks leading out
of the yard to the street. The father
then followed these tracks, which lead
to the river bank, and onto small
boat, short distance above the Cata.
wissa bridge. Here the tracks ended,
and. the mute evidence showed only
too plainly that she had ended her life
in the river.
An alarm was Immediately spread,
and soon several parties were grappl.
ing the shallow water for the body.
Although the bottom was thoroughly
searched, the body was not found.
The parents of the young girl are
highly respected by the people of Cata-
wissa. Mr. Smith is hard working
and industrious man. He is employed
at the Kreamer shoe factory as fire.
man.
Mr.. Smith in reply to question as
to whether his daughter gave any rea-
son for such an act, said: ~ know OF
only one. Her mother and l both OBJ
jected to her keeping company with a
certain young man. We objected for
her own good, but she would not list
en-. and on Saturday evening while
her mother and l were away from
home he called, and stayed for several
hours. Other people told us the match
should be broken up and we did all
we could to prevent it. Yesterday
morning while at the breakfast table
l told Lucy not to go to work but to
stay at home and help her mother.
She said she would and later when
she went out in the back yard We
thought nothing of it until she had
been gone so long that we sent one Of
the younger boys out to see what was
keeping her. then went to search
for her and finding the tracks in the
snow followed them to she boat that
was lying in the water along the river
bank. knew then that she had com
mitted suicide and after giving an
alarm I returned home"
The young man with whom Miss
Smith was infatuated was seen and
was heard to remark that he had not
seen the girl since Saturday night and
at that time she told him she would
leave home when her parents came
back.
Beside her parents the girl is sur
vived by two married sisters Mrs.
William Cox, Of Catawissa; Mrs. Will
liam Billman, of ElmIra, N. Y. and
two small brothers residing at non e.