The Tragedy at the Waterfront

Members of this city received a dispatch from Tacoma Thursday announcing the drowning of Mrs. Weinberg, wife of A. Weinberg, of the firm of Leon Hershberg & Co., wholesale liquor merchants in that place. Mrs. Weinberg was formerly Miss Levy of Portland. She was married to her husband about a week ago. So far as is possible to judge, she and her husband have lived happily together. They fitted up a neat little home near the big hotel at Tacoma and appeared to be prosperous and happy. About 6 o’clock Thursday evening, Mrs. Weinberg so quietly arose from her bed as not to awaken her husband, and without putting on any clothing, she took up an armful of articles from about the room, left the house, and started down the bank toward the bay. On the road, she dropped the various articles she had taken from the house and, reaching the water, she plunged in. Immediately upon striking the water, she commenced to scream and attracted the attention of two men who lived in a cabin near by. Realizing the danger of the woman, the two men hastened to the beach, where they found a boat, but no oars. Grabbing pieces of board, they paddled the frail craft to where the woman still lay struggling. On approaching her, as if realizing that time was precious, they both leaned over to grasp her, and in so doing, upset the boat. The men then turned their attention to themselves, and succeeded in reaching the shore in safety, but to their dismay, they realized the woman had sunk beneath the waves. The body was later recovered by an Indian engaged in fishing for salmon, and the bereaved husband left with it for Portland for interment. There are two theories: one is that the woman was a somnambulist, the other is that she was suffering under a temporary fit of insanity.