New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-07-18
Four Boys Drowned at Washington po,nt

/ IL
From the New York Herald Of the 18th we ex-
tract the following:
| A most lamentable affair occurred about 9
o'clock yesterday morning, at Fort Washington, at
which place four boys, two of whom were coIored
| were drowned together, and in very remarkable
manner. 1t seems that of late the BOYS attached
| to the asylum have been allowed to occasionally
enjoy swim in the river, though always attended
by some of the male teachers. Yesterday morn.
ing, about the above hour, some forty of tile BOYS
among them three or four eolored lads proceeded
small cove Just above the Fort Washington Rail
road depot to battle. They were accompanied by
Gilbert Fl. Hills, one Of the monitors Of the bows,
department. They had hardly got into the water
when cries were heard for help from one named
John y Fremef, who, it seems, had yentilred ont
TOO tar and was unable to swim. He had no
sooner called for assistance than he sunk A
colored boy, named VIM, H. Holley, seeing the
dangerous condition of Fremer, swan out after the
latter in hopes Of rescning him. Being a remark
ably good swimmer, lit was not long before he was
at the spot where Fremer sank and as HolIey
was about to dive under for his companion, Fremer
came up little distance off and was going down
for the second time when Holley seized his arm and
kept him above water lie then turned to swim
ashore, when he was met by two other boys one
Henry Huff. eoored and Jno. Cation or Katon.
who had both started out with view of aiding
Holleyin saving Fremer.
HUFF, however, not being q very good swimmer
became exhausted, and on reaching Holley seized
him around the neck, to rest himself. Holley was
ut the time keeping Fremer's head above water
but the extra weight of HUFF drew him down and
he could make no Roadway towards shore. Cation
also having Joined the three, tried to pull Huff from
Holley, when all four seized hold of one another
and 10 this manner, clasped as it were in each
others arms, sank and were drowned instantlv
not even the slightest movement of The water being
Visible after they disappeared that would Indicate
struggling as they went down. Mr.. Hills as soon
as he saw that Fremer was drowning and that
Holley had gone to his rescue turned to get the
other boys out of the water and in his anxiety 10
see them all safe, he did not observe Huff and Ca
ton leave for Frefner until they had got nearly up
to him. He could have in no way been of any as
sistanee at that time, though he could have no
doubt started out for Fremer ali first and made |
Hoiley and the rest remain ashore. Had he had
the presence of mind to do this there is but little
doubt that the lives OF three of the boys would
have been saved3 and likely that of Fremer. The |
names and ages of the boys arc; John S. Fremer. |
9;John Cation, Il I; William II. Hoey, colored IA |
Henry Huff. colored. IA.
All OF the above were orphans, with the excep- !
ton OF Cation, who has a mother residing in this /
city. He has also two younger brothers connected |
with the Asylum, one of whom was present at the |
time Of the accident.
The mother of the Cations is said to be a highly
respectable woman, and placed her three sons in |
the asylum in order that they mlghtreeeive good |
education and finally be bound out to some respee
table trade. She has always made it rule to visit
them once week, and this sad affair will no donhf
be severe blow to her.
Mr.. Samuel ]. Brooks, Superintendent of the
asylum was at the institution at the time, and on
learning of the unfortunate occurrence took imme.
diate steps to recover the bodies. Several men
were employed and graphing irons were procured
but up To six O'Clock last evening none of the
bodies were found. There is some hope, however,
that they may be obtained this morning at low
water.
The place where they We're drowned is n small
cove just below the point of rock upon which the
telegraph poles were erected. IL is well calculated
for bathing, and is large enough TO allow n mnch
larger number to go in at any one time. As many
as three hundred of the boys have frequently
bathea here, and had not Fremer ventured ont
too far and in the very spot where there is strong
current he would have been safe. 40