Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-03-22
A PERILoUs ADvENTURE-DEAT OF
A BANKER.

The Petersburg Express Of Monday week gives
tho following particulars Of the melancholy &C.
currence in that city GU Sunday evening;
A company Of some half dozen gentlemen
all we'll known residents Of this city-went
across PooahoDtas bridge yesterday afternoon
on n brief visit to Chesterfield. Arriving in
Pocabontas they secured boat, and were rowed
across the water-which, by reason of the heavy
freshet in the river, has oyeihOwn the turnpike
and oil the adjacent low ground. Tho gentle
men were landed and enjoyed themselves in the
country until it was decided they must return
home.
MIR. TraylOr proposed that the party should
cross the river in the boat, instead Of returning
to the city by the route they had gone out.
This was considered so dangerous as to call
forth strenuous objections from several gentle-
men, but said objections were overruled and
we must say the foclhardy attempt to brave the
swollen and rapid current Of the river was made.
In the canoe were Mr.. TraylOr, MIR. Samuel
Lecture, Mr.. George Kirkham, Mr.. John Burch,
Mr.. Robert Atkinson, Mr. John Keasney, and
two negro oarsmen. They started out some
distance above the railroad and Pocahontas
bridges, and the head Of the boat was turned
up the stream, so as to allow time aud space to
combat the current. Their intention was to
land at the foot Of Second street, near this end
Of the bridge.
Striking upward and ncross, oblquely. th'
boat toou reached the current, and soon it be
| Tba ontnhinn1 nd nm
ceasing efforts OF the strong and practical oars
men were vain in the midst of power 30 mighty
aud the frail canoe, laden with it's human freight
was borne swiftly down. As it approached neare
and nearer the new railroad bridge, with spec
equal to that of the swiftly gliding steamer,
became evident to the anxious occupants Of tn
boat that a terrible fate awaited them unlel
they could save themselves upon the ,restles
that structure. 1t was therefore determined
when they should arrive in close distance, th'
each one should look to his own tafety, at
Il. iump for the bridge. Tho water is only son
two or three feet below the flooring Of the bridg
and to secure a hold upon the timbers W
thought their only method Of escape.
~ Messrs Lecture, Kirkbam, Atkinson, kea
ney, and one of the negroes, leaped from Il
- boat and fortunately gained the bridge
Mr.. Traylor and Mr.. Burch merely grasp
" the silI, and their bodies dropped in the wat'
Their positions were both extremely critic
y Mr.. Trayor lay upon his back-jjust able
:, keep his head out Of the water. Mr.. Bur
:" was turned upon his abdomen and was there
better able to maintain his hold.
Messrs. Lecture and Atkinson who VI
10, nearest him, at once gave assistance to
~, TraylOr, but they found it impossible to mi
=. him. His weight was so great, and the curr
-, bore down his body so heavily, that they co
''u not raise him. Others also aided but with
~ avail. Mr.. Trsylor's last words were, 81
'S0 ODDS sake, save me ifyou can" He soon bec'
us exhausted and sank. His body was swept dc
ny, with powerful force against Pooahontas bri
I'LL aud beneath it. 1t is supposed that the blow
here received must have killed him. Nearly
Nv, minutes elapsed before his body reappeared
'o' beneath the bridge, and then it was seen
's"' momentarily before it was lost to view.
He" Mr.. Trsylor was about fifty years of age,
'ees was a clerk in the banking establishment
Aes' Messrs. Hinton & Dunn. He will be misse
INV the community.