Evening journal., 1915-08-14
RIVER Gives MP
BODY OF WOMAN
NOT Identified

'FRONT.' street. fhiladelphla, declares |
she saw the woman in the water and
screamed an alarm on the steamer
on which she was a passenger
Captain Horace Wilson. president
OF the steamboat company, Is con-
WINGED from what he has learned IA
making an Investigation. that the wo-
man committed suicide. The reason
that the crew did not put out boat.
he said, was that the officers could
see no one in the water except some
boys who were swimming. The cap
tain Of the boat stopped the steamer
as soon as he was told that some
one was overheard, but saw no wo-
man in, the water.
Mrs. White gave out a signed
statement that officers Of the Wilson
Line steamboat City of Chester had
refused to lower q lifeboat for the
rescue Of the woman. Repeated APP
peals for help for the woman whom
she saw struggling in the water. Mrs.
White said, received no attention
from the officers.
Captain Wilson makes the follow
ing statement OF the case
al have every reason TO believe that
Mrs White did see the woman, but
Il Is my opinion that she jumped from
the shin with suicidal intent When
MIRO. White went 10 the pilot house
Wednesday evening she did not see
the CAPTAIN but the first mate. He
Immediately stopped the ship and re-
ported the matter TO the captain.
When they could not see anyone in
the water they proceeded on their
way
There we're about 700 persons on
the boat that night and no one but
Mrs White could be found by the
officers who saw the woman
Mrs. Whites Statement
Mrs. White in her statement, said;
"On Wednesday August II, ! was
returning from Wilmington TO Phila-
delphia on the City OF Chester with
: my husband and two nieces. Just as
| we were passing the drawbridse' az
about TO D. m. ] should say,
] thought ] heard a splash. / was
! seated at the extreme back Of the
t boat leaning on the rail. and was
I watching the waves Looking in the
= direction whence the sound or the
4 splash had seemed TO come, saw q
n
{ with hlack-foating on the water
] The hat was pinned TO a woman
y head Her mouth was open as II sh'
were screaming, she was plump an'
e had dark hair She was evidently
% struggling desperately 70 save her
e self AS soon as I saw her scream
l. ed. and when she came up the sec
a ond time, several people, nine at least
8 a "a =
y loud as could.
s u screamed, Tell the captain; tel
.s the captain but no one went forwar
e to tell him. They were evidently cor
A. fused. So ] rushed toward the car
le tain's door. hammered on IL wit
le all my strength and ratified the knoll
The door opened and I saw the car
tain and tho purser. the former al ri
wheel said, There's a woms
"The catain said Did she fall fror
this boat?
- IT said: Z am almost sure she did
u he said: Well, if she didn't fol
from this boat we. can't help IT, 0
words 10 that effect.
Then said: Captain, she Is max
ing a desperate fight for her life
= won't you please help her, 7 am sur
you can save her. The young purse
If went downstairs.
IF my husband says that the boa
!. was stopped for a few seconds, bu
q. no lifeboats we're lowered. ! ar
IA positive Of that fact When ] cam
II back there was no signs Of the VIC
n man.
~ 81 could not sit still. wante
,s to see the purser. who had gone dowr
,s stairs, but the top OF the stairs wa
~ roped off, and they we're punching III
~ tickets. / went 10 60 down the ster
= and saw a young man standing Z
\. the TOP of the steps. l said, ! wor
- der If they discovered how the woma
- fell OFF,
e He said: I wouldn't bother M
self about II. II she wanted {
drown, let her drown
Rebukes the Officer.
81 told him that / thought nc We
a heartless cur, and other things.
Id have forgotten exactly what ri
iii captain and purser came alor
punching tickets. / said Captai
, have you found out anything abol
- that woman?
az He said: Tut, tut II must hal
] uttn I'll OulildA QtAueAOna II eNu He
~ looked long enough you would ha'
10 found it was a boy in swimming
~ Then laughngly he continued: -
Sc doubt when she got down there 81
e, found the water wet. You are q
-. only one that saw her.
" Il am absolutely positive Il was
% woman--a grown woman. ] notice
y distinctly that she had on a viii
rs shirtwaist with three-quarter sleeve
When I saw her she was NOT mo
- than twenty-five yards from the DO;
- and ! saw her distinctly. Every o.
~ around me was positive Il was a "
70 man, and we were all Mortified. I sa
~ her the first time. but they did n
~ see her until the second time sl
~ came ~.
RS Il told the captain: Captain,
ne think that II your mother fell ovC
ny board you would make no effort
ne save her He did not answer. b
Is. the purser laughed"
80 Captain Wilson says that the m
~ 10 thought 10 be the purser by M
ne White was Chief Omcer and Rel
.aSS Captain Walter B. Dougherty
- Immediately reported to CAPITA
~ George Ward
-"e Mrs Wright, on her way 20 a
the captain, also spoke 10 Watchm
Alfred Davis. Of the hurricane dee
The Waterman also said man W