The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-07-28
translated from the Drych Mirror 6y G. e.
Melancholy Occurrence at Ebensburg.
Recording Secy.

On Tuesday, the 2lst of Juue last, five or six
boys of this town, between Z and o'clock A
NJ, went TO battle to John Williams mill-dam
about quarter of mile from the borders of
the town Among these boys was WILLIAM H.
BATEMAN, between seven and eight years old
"a son of Wesley and Jane Bateman.) They
stripped and went into the water; thus they
amused themselves in the water for some time
when Bateman took piece of a board that he
found in the place. set it on the face of the wa
ter, and went on 1t and rowed backwards and
forwards near the shore for some time then he
ventured further by little and little, became
alarmed, and appeared to wish to come back,
but was unable to accomplish his desire and by
separating himself from the board he cried to his
friends that he would be drowned except they
could help him, and down he went, not one of
the boys being able to do anything to assist and
save him, not one of them being able to swim
and they him no more until they saw his
dead body The boys cried out; to give the
alarm one OF them ran to town 10 the house of
the parents to inform them of the sad catastro-
phe The news spread like lightning through
the town and in a few minutes there were hun
dreds at the water side. N j. Roberts and
Daniel Davis stripped and went in but could
not find him because the water was muddy. In
minute j. w. Roberts and A. ]. Rhey two
good swimmers, arrived. The spot was shown to
them where the poor boy had sunk; Rhey swan
| to the place and down he went, the other three
searching to the utmost of their power. But as
/ Rhey was longer than expected before he
appeared they began to be alarmed about him,
and j. w. Roberts swan to the pace where
Rhey went down, but as Roberts went down
Rhey made his appearance having found the
body but unable to bring him up with him. He
breathed for short time and went down again
with Roberts, and between them brought him
up. There were two skillful physicians among
the crowd that was present; they tried all the
skill they possessed in endeavoring to bring him
to life but all in vain, the vital spark had fed
to return no more.
i This melancholy occurrence has caused much
uneasiness to parents, fearing when their dear
children are out of their sight that they have
/ come to the same end.
The next day the inhabitants of the town and
vicinity collected to accompany him to his long
home. / never saw such a funeral in this place,
not only on account of the number assembled,
but on account of the good order, the decency,
the seriousness that was visible in every coun
tenance.
The proceedings at the funeral were as fol
lows: The Rev. Mr.. Norton Presbyterian
minister, and Mr.. Powell, a Congregations
minister, offciated at the house and at the
: grave. The procession was formed at the house
the Revs. Morton and Powell foremost then tn,
corpse carried by eight young men, appointed
for the purpose, on nice little bier; next, tn,
mourning relatives in carriages; next, the fellow
scholars of the deceased neatly dressed, formed
/, into a procession two and two, about fifty il
} numper, accompanied by their teacher follow
ed by the children and ladies of the town, ant
then the males who were in attendance. Gene
raj sympathy with the distressed parents wa
+ manifested in their sudden and unexpected trial
: by the almost universal attendance of the inhab
itants of the town; the stores and shops beiu
nearly all closed in manner that was becomin
n on such an occasion.
i Mr.. and Mrs. Bateman are religious peopl
and have acted under the present severe tria
n with prudence and patience Considering that
n was the Lord that gave and took away, the
c acknowledge that il is their duty to bless hi
holy name. II. I. ID.
July 27, 1858
Dear William he is laid below,
The goldfish clods where all must go;
To lodge and slumber in the clay,
% Until the great aud final day.
&C Let's all prepare in day of grace,
2, To rive in peace that gloomy place;
~ With full belief in Jesus love,
As we can join the saints above.
There to remain in endless bliss,
's With full enjoyment before His
: High, spleudid, everlasting throne,
Where sin nor SORROWS are not known.