TRAGEDY ON A SWISS LAKE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2534, 6 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

TRAGEDY ON A SWISS LAKE.

A TKT.iiCRAM from Berne which lias been received ill Paris gives an account of an extraordinary drama which as just occurred on the Lake of Bienne. A journeyman watchmaker, living at SaintItnier, had fallen violently in love with a young lady of the neighbourhood, who returned Ilia passion. She was of remarkable beauty, and as soon as her family heard of the affair every attempt was made to put a stop to the meetings of the couple. A day or two ago they contrived to elude the vigilance of the giri'.i relatives, and travelled together to Bienne, where they passed the night. The next morning they hired a boat, and when they had got about 200 yards from the shore the in an was seen to attach the anchor rope to his companion's body, after which, produciug a knife, he attempted to open the veins in her arm. Meanwhile, the spectators of this decidedly unpleasant scene had sprung into the boats which were lying near, and were pulling with the utmost energy towards that in which the watchmaker and the girl were seated. Perceiving that they would not long be left to carry out their work of self-des-truction unmolested, the man threw down the knife and, seizing a revolver, fired twice at his companion, but without wounding her. He then turned the weapon against his own breast, and,.seizing the girl round the waist, lie sprang with her into the lake. Their would-be preservers arrived too late at the spot, and it was son.o time before the bodies could be recovered. The girl and her paramour —who was a marrijd man with four children—were tightly locked in each other's arms.