The sun., 1919-01-25
Note Left in La Lorraine
StaterOOm Said They Were
Sworn Out"
IN WAR WORK FOR YEAR
Despatch From France Telling
of Suicides Is Doubted
by Brother.

A despatch from Bordeaux received
yesterday in this city announced the
deaths by suicide of Miss Gladys and
Miss Dorothea Cromwell. stating that
they had leaped from the deck OF the
Lorraine while the vessel, which was
bound for New York, lay In the Garonno
River.
The despatch added that they had left
a note in their stateroou addressed to
the captain OF the vessel, declaring that
they had concluded to "end It ALL" and
that their bodies had not been reeov-
cred. It was stated also that they had
complained to fellow passengers OF be-
ing worn out mentally and physically as
a result Of their years work with Red
Cross unit near the fighting front.
The report of their deaths came Us
great shock to their friends in this city,
but until he can obtain confirmation or
It it Is wholly discredited by their
brother SeymoH l.. Cromwell or the
banking Arm Of Strong. Sturgis q Co. or
36 Broad street. AS soon as he received
the report he put himself into communi-
cation with friends in Washington and
In France, but up to late last n'sht hao
been unable to find out whether the re-
port was true or not.
The Misses Dorothea and Gladys
Cromwell went to France year ago to
engage in Red Cross canteen work They
were twins. 80 years old. and the daush-
ters of the late Frederick Cromwell, for
many wears treasurer of the Mutual Life
Insurance Company. After his death
tn n
at 535 Park avenue, which theg cioseo
when they went abroad.
Mr.. Cromwell is certain that the re-
mort Of the deaths OF his sisters Is
mistake, basing his belief on caoie-
gram which he received from them on
Wednesday, In which they said Misseo
steamer. Sailing on Espagne. lie says
that there could have been no possible
motive for their suicide because 'hey
had written that they had found great
happiness in their work in france anu
we're looking forward eagerly TO their re-
turn to New York.
The Lorraine sailed last Sunday and
the Espagne will not leave BordeauN
until to-day. The Misses Cromwell hao
not said in any message received mere
wbe,her they had intended to sail by the
| Iorratne. but their brother believes since
the Lorraine and Espagne are poth
ou,nad by the same line that the Lor-
-aine is the vessel which. to judge by
| ,he,r cablegram, they must have missed
He said last night that he was sure
that the report of their deaths must nave
heen due to their not being found ABOARD
,ha lorraine after she left her pier, al
| ,hov,b their names must have been on
tha m passenger list and their baggage
nrohably on board. Also the cablegran'
,,hIcb he had from them was sent from
urance the day the Lorraine sailed
-vh,ch makes him think 1t unlikely that
thew could have been on board.
despatch from a Red Cross officia
4, France, received last night. stated
~, the cromwell sisters left Paris the
S,v before the Lorraine sailed. and that
,bev were then cheerful and apparently
happy. ,. l.
Thev have been in active service ir
prrance. ON Red Cross duty since Fepru'
arv of last year, and In letters IRON
,hs,r immediate superior have been de-
acr,bed as devoted workers. Most o.
their period OF service was spent a
chaIons sur Marne, where they were ir
canteen work until their canteen CLOSED
sbortly after the signing of the armls
tee The last two months they have
,..r ON duty In an evacuation hospital
The canteen where they were nrst sta
toned has often been under long rang'
shell fre and has been suojected 70 AL
raids.