A MOTHER'S DESPAIR...

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 145, 22 June 1916, Page 6

A MOTHER'S DESPAIR...

Her husband and four sons lost in i the war, and her only remaining lad | taken under her eyes as a deserter - from the army, has proved too much Wor one! broken-hearted woman, the # tragic story of whose suicide at sea came to light on the arrival at New _ York of the Greek liner loannina | from Piraeus. ;When war broke for Serbia, Mrs Concessa Sevitch, had just started in business in Nish. The call to the colours took away four of her sons, and six months later her husband and youngest son joined the same regiment. One by one the Sevitch boys were taken in the toll of battle, and three months ago news came to Mrs Sevitch that her husband had been killed. Her youngest was brought home wounded. With thel ittle money she had left, Mrs Sevitch determined to leave Europe n and take her son wih her. Friends helped her sen to smuggle on board the loannina and stow away in the n fireroourf. French found young Sevitch anl arrested him as a deserter. Thk mothers tears and. entreaties were of no avail.' At last, when the 'loannina was off the Italian coast, Mrs Sevitch leaped overboard from the steamer. The vessel was stopped, and a lifeboat was lowered, but the rough sea prevented aid reaching the drowning who was nver seen again.