New-York tribune., 1919-01-25
New York Young Women
Plunge Into River After
Leaving France for Home
Letter Tells of Intention
Served With the Red Cross
Since L. S. Entered War;
Worn Out by Their Work

BY eaping from the French steamer La
Lorraine as the ship was passing Chris
topher Light in the Garonne River.
The sisters were on their way home
after years service as Red Cross
eanteen workers.
letter found in their stateroom
addressed to the commanding officer of
their Red Cross unit told of their in
tention ito end it all" Most of their
years service had been at the front,
and friends in the unit said they had
complained of being tired physically
and mentally.
Their bodies have not been rccov-
cred.
Relatives of the young women, who
were twins, still had hope yesterday
that the report of their suicide was
erroneous. The hope was based to a
large extent upon cable message
received Tuesday by their brother,
Seymour I. Cromwell. The message
was:
Brother Not Convinced
Mr.. Cromwell was far from being
convinced that his sisters had been
drowned or even had been on La Lor-
raine. That steamer sailed Sunday,
he said. according to maritime reports,
which in itself rendered it virtually
impossible that any passenger could
have leaped overheard in the Garonne
River yesterday.
1--WE have received no authentic
rews regarding the occurrence" said
Mr. Cromwell. Il can see no reason
why the girls did not take the Espagne
as they cabled me they would l am
of the opinion that they sailed on the
Espagne. 1t is incredible that the
girls should have committed suicide.
will not take the report seriously
until have received indisputable
verifcation.''
The sisters had been inseparable
from their school days on. In school
they sat side by side. They made
their debut together and one seldom
was seen at dinner or dance without
the other.
Established Joint Home
A the death of their father, the
late Frederick Cromwell, who was
treasurer and trustee of the Mutual
Life Insurance Company, the sisters
did not make their home with an elder
sister, Mary Z. Cromwell, who now is
doing war work in France, nor did they
share the home of their brother, Sey-
mour L. Cromwell of 169 East Seventy
fourth Street. who recently was made
chevalier of the Legion Of Honor for
his services as president of the Society
for the Fatherless Children of France.
These comrade twins made a home
for themselves in little apartment at
o35 Park Avenue. where they could be
together, just the two Of them. They
had shared in the large estate of their
father. There they lived and gave
much Of their time to charity work.
Hiss Dorothea was devoted to music
and Miss Gladys was poet. Maga-
zines carried a number Of Miss Gladys's
poems last year. In 1915 a book of
her poems was published. 1t was
aedicted TO Anne Dunn, who is
teacher at the exclusive Breariey
sscnooi Tor Girls on East Sixty-frst
Street
Went to France Together
Nncn the call came for Red Cross
eanteen girls to carry cheer to the
american fighting men in France their
Trends recall it was as with one mind
mat the sisters seized upon the first
opportunity TO perform women's SER
wee at the front They placed their
names one under the other on the Red
Iross rolls. The same steamer carried
Shem TO France last January.
Even the red tape of war could not
separate them. Ordinarily two young
women reporting at Paris Red Cross
ean'een headquarters at the same time
would, likely as not, be assigned to
auty at widely separated points. But
'ne Cromwell sisters contrived to be
assigned 10 the same canteen.
Aot only was their wish that they
ye attached 10 the same post granted,
out when they asked that they be sent
10 cantecn near the front that re-
guest also was granted.
Most Of the time these two New York
a'sters, who were only twenty-five,
kefsed al Chalong- sur Marine. There
sor several months they were within
Iaage Of the German guns and in the
must 81 constant airplane raids.
Worked at the Frontn
iheir letters 20 friends in New York
.oia now they were frequently com
peiled 10 quit scrying hot chocolate to
ao1gnboya to scurry to a dugout until
,erman airplanc departed for other
helds Of activity.
a meSsage from France yesterday.
ht ny :neir Immediate superior officer,
IlaNe burnett. told that they were the
ers she had.
- when the Cromwell sisters had stood
re strain OF shells and bombs for sew
ia months 1t the front line pogt their
.,shaS and superior officers began urg-
s ,nen 70 accept an assignment
100 ~ wniie further back to give their
.yes ss.s rest The Cromwell twins
stes ~ 70 The Chaions canteen. IF IL had
~ Deen for the armistiee they would
.x.s ass peen there yet, their friends az
Stood strain Of War
m"t until the war had ended and they
aaa 80 oone their full share toward win
sssg 's-ng y did these two "goldierp sisters
Continued on 7,oge eight