The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-08-31
TEACHER was
A MARTYR TO
HER CHILDREN
suicided Because She Had
Failed to Win a Prize
v for Them.
|Rt.> d after She HAD
TAKEN THE Fatal PLUNGE
Leaped From Bridge and Struck Her
Head on a Log and the Body Be.
came Entanglcd in Debris, Making
Rescue Impossible in Time.

Philadelphia, Aug. s1.-Despond-
ent over her inability to win for her
scholars contest toward which she
bent her every energy and suffer-
ing from a general attack of nervous
prostration and melancholia, Miss
Edna M. Schaeffer, 20 years old, Of
2010 East York street. an extreme
ly popular school teacher in the Will
lard school, Emerald and Orleans
streets who has been spending the
summer at Delanco. N. j.. in an ef-
fort to regain her health, escaped
from the vigil Of her nurse and care
taker last night, and running to the
Rancocas creek, jumped to her death.
The overwrought girl evidently re-
gretted her tragic act the second af-
ter she had jumped and as she struck
the water, she cried pitifully for help.
The cries were heard by three men
who were walking q short distance
above the bridge from which Miss
Schaeffer leaped. They hurried to
the spot just as she went down out
of sight. The men discarded their
coats and dived after. Although
they repeatedly plunged to the bot
tom of the stream. they could find
no trace of the girl and her body
was not recovered until early this
morning.
Martyr to Children.
The girl. her friends declare, died
q NtvyR 10 -
Several months ago, when q school
contest for large prize was started
In this city, Miss Schaeffer determined
that her scholars should be the lucky
winners. She exerted every effort
toward securing votes for her pro-
teges, and the children; fired by her
zeal and enthusiasm, labored in de-
lightful anticipation.
Just at the close of the school year
the results were announced, and It
was found that Miss Schaeffer had
lost by one vote. The strain of the
contest and the bitter disappointment
of being beaten by such narrow
margin caused a breakdown. She
became morose and depressed and
brooded continually over the defeat.
Her condition became alarming,
and, believing that change Of scene
and environment would benefit her,
Dr. Clarence schaeffel, of the Munic-
dpal hospital, the young woman's
brother. sent her to Delanco in charge
OF nurse. a Miss Gallagher. The
two were ensconsed in the Rancocas,
summer hotel located short dis
tance from the creek of that name.
The change for time seemed to
prove beneficial, but as the period for
the schools to open drew near, the
girl reverted to the depression Of the
early summer.
GLOW will I ever go back to those
children" she said to her companion
recently. Eve planned what we would
do with the prize and they were so
happy, and now when they won't have
any prize, they will think It is my
Miss Gallagher stroye earnestly to
divert the girls mind, but without
success. Last night, after a day Of
despoondency. Miss Schaeffer
asked Miss Gallagher to take a walk
with her.
I've got to get away from people,"
the girl said, "and be out where it is
quiet and peaceful. Just wish that
l might drift away in the moonlight,
and nsver, never have to come back"
The two left the hotel, and walked
toward Riverside. for the most part
in silence. When that place was
reached, they entered drug store.
Miss Gallagher suggested that her
charge have some soda. water, while
she had prescription filled. The
girl demurred, but walked over to
the soda counter, while the nurse
went to the rear Of the store.
1t was while the latter was occu-
pied. that Miss Schaeffer, quietly, but
quickly, darted out of the door and
then ran swiftly toward the bridge
spanning the creek. Evidently with
out moments hesitation, as was in
dicated by the foot prints in the dust,
she approached an unprotected part
Of the bridge and plunged forward.
1t is believed, head first.
Her cries Of regret, as she swept
through the air, attracted the, men.
The officials were notified and the
creek dragged for the girls body. Il
was found that she had struck her
head upon log, and. being instantly
rendered inert, her body had become
entangled in some debris at the bot
tom Of the creek.
TWENTY-FIVE SAVED
Miners EnfomheA IN Flooded W.T..