The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-03
DROWNING CASUALTY IN BROOKLYN.

Man, Woman and Three Chi!dren Drowned
ia Pend in south BrookIyn--The Lattex
Lose Their Lives While Bathing, and tho
Former in Attempting to Rescue Them.
The Eighth ward Brooklyn, was the scene Of q
most heartrending and melancholy catastrophe yes
terday afternoon, occasioned by the sudden and I'M
timely death of five persons, three little girls and
two grown persons, under the following Circum-
stances:-It appears that about two O'Clock in the
afternoon three children named Margaret Dough
erty, aged ten years; Ann Carroll, of the same age,
and Mary Sullivan, about nine years Old, all Of
whom resided in small wooden buildings, or shantes,
on Douglass street. near Fourth Avenue betook
themselves to pond In the rear Of their dwellings,
for the purpose OF bathing The pond in question ia
OF considerable extent and an area OF tour
blocks being bounded by Union and Douglass streets
ana fSurtn ana rim avenues Ihere being no drain
concentrates In this locality, and is In some places
fully fifteen feet in depth On the lower grade Of the
surrounding streets are congregated a number OF
shantes peOpled by the poor class OF people. from
whose doors the bank slopes gradually down to the
weather affords favorite place OF resort among the
youngsters. who devote their leisure time to PLAYING
around 1t, fishing for 'minnies' and wading therein
These three children hand In hand, as was their
wont on previous occasions. stepped joyously and
moving gradually forward, when they were ali OBJ,
served to sink suddenly beneath the surface
sna dep TO ait s wss se ~
poor man named James McGee while sitting
at his door, at the corner of Fifth avenue and .
Douglass street, who, prompt to exert the first
instincts Of humanity, regardless OF personal risk he
being unable to swim, rushed down the bank and
into the water. Dashing boldly forward toward The
spot where he had seen them SINK he, too, soon
beyond his depth and struggling but In vain to keep
his head above the surface. The mother Of Marga-
ret, Mrs. Ann Dougherty. who, from the window OF
her residence on the opposite side OF the pond bad
ward with a mothers devotion and seIfsacrifcing
love for her OFFSPRING, ran into the pond without
waiting even to divest herself OF any portion Of her
MI nj 10 lrna NIL mr. 1l1y
which now held the four bodies was soon added TO
the fearful holocaust OF victims to watery grave.
Corners, heard the cries OF the unfortunate woman
and noblyrushng forward, being able to swim reach
ed the spot and succeeded in conveying the body OF
one OF the children TO the bank. The brave fellow
again and again repeated his melancholy task In tis
manner, until at length, completely exhausted, he
had landed the last OF the fve unfortunate people
who but few minutes previous were full OF life and
health little dreaming that the angel OF death was
so near their humble hearths. BY TINS time quite
large number OF persons. chiefly women and chill
dren-the men being at their daily work-were
sembled on the scene, when the most affecting ex-
pressions OF grief for the dead and lamentations
were raised. Onicer Cadmus who was returning
from dinner on one OF the city cars saw the crowd
and fastened 10 the spot where he assisted ayng
out the bodies until the arrival OF Captain Powers Of
the Fifteth precinct who aucsed their removal tc
their respective abodes.
Drs. wylde and Ray were Immediately summoned
and all possible efforts In the premises were male
TO resuscifae them. slight pulse was noticeable IN
one OF the children, aud the body was rolled over
barrel but TO no avail; the pulsaiion soon ceased
gave no indication Of life whatsoever.
James McGee was thrtyhve years OF age, Ia
horcr was married and leaves widow and three
children unprOvided for. He Is said to have been q
steady, honest and industrious man.
Mrs. Ann DOugherty was thirty live years old ana ,
leaves four little ones. Her husband was home at
noon and partook OF his frugal meal surrounded 10y
those dear ones whose cold and rigid corpses were
the first objects 70 meet his hopeful expectant gaze
on crossing the threshold at eve
The Coroner was notified and will hold an inquest
on the bodies to-day. The casualty H. undoubtedly
the most appalling OF the Kind that has occurred "
Brooklyn for several years past.