The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-12
Burlington Officer PIunses Into the
Mississippi River After Woman
Who Was Attempting Sui
eide While Despondent.
THOUGHT TO FOLLOW
Believed That Parent Had Fallen In
to the River-Reseue by Blue
coat Was Spectacular
Affair.

desperate state of mind over the
belief that her father had thrown
himself into the river, Miss Clara
Leiwe, aged thirty-five, daughter OF
Mi. Geo. Leiwe, jumped or fell into
the river from barge tied to the
shore at the foot of High street yes
terday afternoon, and was rescued
from certain death by Captain L. B.
Anderson. of the police department
AFTER a hard struggl and at the risk
OF his life.
The rescue of the drowning girl was
one OF the most spectacular exhibit
tons OF nerve and bravery that has
ever been recorded in the annals Of
the Mississippi river here. Miss
L'eiwe was undoubtedly mentally ov-
er-Wrought and was not responsible
FOR her actions. Officer Anderson,
knowing full well the danger in such
case. did not hesitate, but leaped
into the water at once and saved the
girl. The relatives and friends of the
young woman are deeply grateful to
Captain Anderson, and he will be
given the credit in the minds of the
public as brave-hearted man intent
on his duty in the face of death.
Miss Leiwe Alarmed.
Shortly after noon yesterday Mr..
Leiwe called to his daughter that he
was going away for while, meaning
he was going down town on business.
She was upstairs and failed to under
stand. Thinking her father mad said
he was going away for good the young
woman hurried downstairs, and, not
being able to find him, put on her hat
and went to locate him Wild with
fright and anxiety, and well-nigh ner-
vously Frustrated, the girl appeared
on the bank of the river at the foot
of High street, near the Rock Island
freight house, and was seen to pace
the bank, wringing her hands and
| crying. She then stepped out on a
fiat-bottomed barge, which was tied
to the bank there, and standing on
| the little platform at the end, gazed
into the water, crying for her father.
John Mcfarland, a launch owner,
was in his launch close at hand, and
| saw the girl was distracted. He fear
ed for her safety and telephoned to
the police station. officers Anderson
and Despair hurried to the spot and
found the girl still crying and acting
wildly. They attempted to persuade
her to come ashore. She replied that
her father was in the river and that
she wanted to watch for him to come
| UP and to save him
/ The Rescue.
Talking with the girl in reassur-
ing manner, and trying to persuade
her to come ashore and telling her
that her father would come up safely.
1 Captain Anderson stepped into a
launch near the barge and just above
it, attempting to get near enough to
the girl to catch her In case she
should fall Or throw herself into the
water, as he feared she would. She
repeated her statement that she would
watch for her father to come up, and
added, that should he not do SO she
would go into the water after him.
Captain Anderson, in telling the
story, said
Il tried to persuade her, but she
suddenly made leap. She was no
knocked off, nor did she fall. Sht
leaped into the water. l sprang aftel
her, having first to jump from tn,
launch l was in onto the barge, from
which she had sprung, and then int
the water after her. did not stop t.
take off anything, but went in, shoes
coat and all hadn't time to TAX
off anything. got hold of her dres
soon, and after struggle drew he
over toward land so could just toucl
bottom. Then | pulled her out witt
the aid of Officer Despair. AS l strue
gled with her, she said wildly to me
why don't You let me drown?' Sh
- rrlx, I. a