The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-09-01
MISS MAUD SMITH
FELL FROM BRIDGE
Did Not Recollect Anything
From Time She Reached
Bridge Until She Came
to Consciousness-Left
Friends Because Ill.
RICHMo NOV A-special.-

r c III NJ o n ID, V A.-SpeciaI-
While suffering with an epileptic tit
Miss Maud Smith, twenty-five years
old, OF 1O4 West Fifth Street fell
from Mayo's Bridge into the James
RIVER yesterday afternoon about 1890
Q CLOCK, but was rescued by Frank
Giannotti, who, with some friends
was In hOuseboat nearby.
The accident took place on the east
side Of the bridge, between the first
and second pier, where there is no
railing.
Miss Smith was walking near the
edge OF the bridge when she was
spasms, from which she has been suf-
tering for about seven years, and.
losing her senses, tOppled over into
the river below.
Acted QueerIy.
George Jewett, young man of her
acquaintance, who was near her at
T the time of the accident. noticed her
queer actions near the north end of
the bridge. He spoke to her and Of
fered to walk home with her, but she
was too i'll TO return an answer, and
mistaking her silence for repugnance
to his company he proceeded across
the bridge at quicker speed, leaving
her walking slowly. He had his back
| turned when he heard a noise, and
turning. saw her body descending to
I
his coat and was preparing to jump
into the river to rescue her when
Frank Giannotti, who was on a house
boat nearby, called TO him that he
would rescue her.
Drifted TO Sand Bar.
She was found stranded on a sand
bar. where she had drifted. She was
unconscious, but was quickly resus-
tated by the administration of first
aid treatment The ambulance which
| gA hoo
home. where she this morning gave
the above and following facts to
Journal reporter who had abundant
confederation of her story in witness
ing two of the attacks of epilepsy
which came on while he was at her
home.
No Idea of Suicide.
She stated that she did not enter
tain the least idea of committing sui
eide, and had had no quarrel or mis-
understanding or trouble with any
one prior to her accident.
Tells How 1t Happened.
LETT home about 1880 o'clock
yesterday morning with two young
men of my acquaintance Mr.. Elm
son and Mr.. Mac-who came Satur-
live in Florida.
We three went In the automobile
to get friend Of mine. a Miss Katie
Jewell, who lives on Twenty-sixth
street. on the other side of the river.
We drove from there to the restau-
rant where 1 felt these attacks COM
ing on and 1 told them I was going
home and jumped out OF the automo-
bile. l was dazed, but managed to
get TO Mayo's Bridge, and from then
do not know what I did.
L heard man call that he would
get me. but / don't know what hap
pened. The mother Of the young lady
says she had no knowledge of any
trouble until her daughter was
brought home in the ambulance. DR.
BroadnaN, who is the family physi-
elan. has been treating Miss Smith
for epilepsy for sometime and he
stated that one of the spasms conse-
quent on this disease was no doubt
the cause of her fall into the river
Fortunately. the young lady fel'
into place in the river where the
! water is deep and where there are
rev rocks. or she would perhaps have
been killed.
She was suffering intensely with
nervousness when seen today. but was
declared only slightly hurt from her
experience.