The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1869-08-14
THE Bush RIVER DROWNING Casa very

THE Bush RIVER DROWNING CAsE.-A very sad
affair occurred on Thursday of last week in
Bush River near the Philadelphia Railroad
bridge. The Baltimore Sun Of Tuesday last,
says:
1t appears that the party started in Mr.. Harry
Lees yacht ON Thursday morning last, on a
Grabbing excursion on Bush river, below what is
known as the battery. The party gathered
about IL A. NJ, Dr. John G. Pope, Jas. Coch-
ran, JAS Cage, Washington Downey, two sons
of Albert Dove, WIN. Geo. Diffenderffer, JUS. NJ.
and Septmus D. Sewell, Harry and Josiah Lee,
nephews Of the last two named, Chas. Sewell,
son OF Septimus d. Sewell, colored boy EN-
ployed by the Sewells and two others whose
names have not been learned composing the
party. When the yacht capsized the colored boy
is said to have acted in the most cool and deter
mined manner, and was instrumental in saving
a number of lives. The entire party belonged to
Abingdon, Hartford county. They were in COM
pany with row boat from Belair, containing
nine persons, headed by Mr.. John s. Dallam,
and the two parties Grabbed together until about
half-past three O clock in the afternoon, when
they separated and each left for the point they
had started from in the morning. On the way
home a storm came up and Mr.. Dallam's boat
pulled into Doves cove for safety, and the other
boat, sloop-rigged yacht, steered for the Phila-
dephia club house, about two miles distant from
where the joint party were grabbing. When OPP
posie the club house the wind blew furiously,
and the hat of one of the Sewe boys blew off,
and in rounding the yacht 10 recover it the
yacht capsized. This occurred about four O elk.
In shifting or lifting the yard arm, Mr.. Harry
Lee was knocked overheard, and was not seen
afterwards. The balance of those on board got
on the bottom of the boat, but amidst the rough
ness of the waters, though they were not very
deep fonnd great difficulty in retaining their o
sition As the waves would wash some one off
from time to lime, the colored boy noticed above
would swim out and bring him back. When
the yacht capsized a colored man witnessed the
| accident from the club house. and at once start
! ed for the rescue in II boat, but owing 10 the
| high wind and waves could not reach them for
at least two hours. About a quarter of an hour
before the c0lored man reached the yacht, Mr..
Jas NJ Sewcll became exhausted and was drown
ed His body was subsequently found in the
sails of the yacht When the rescuing boat was
some fifty va: DIS from the sufferers, Mr.. Septimus
| D. Sewell started TO swim to The boat but when
only about ten yards from it he sank, and was
drowned After Septnus d. Sewel was drown
! ed Washington Downey and Mr.. Doves two
sons and the cOlored boy, swan to the boat, and
| did much in aiding the colored man to save the
balance Of their unfortunate companions who
could not swim. The coored man in the boat
| from the club house at length was enabled to
anchor about ten feet from the yacht, and by aid
Of an oar those remaining in the water were res
cued The body - Mr.. Jas. NJ. Sewell was re-
covered The evening of the accident, that Of
| Sepiimus d. Sewell about noon Saturday,
but the body of Mr.. Lee was not found until
yesi, rdu, morning The bodies of the last two
were found on the place OF MIR. VIM. Eicott, on
Bush river NECK, nearly opposite the club house.
Several Of the gentlemen rescued were so much
exhausted rs TO be unable to proceed TO their
homes until the following day. The disaster has
cast gloom over the village of Abingdon and
its vicinity, where the parties resided, and where
they generally and kindly esteemed. Mr..
Lee was single man, and about % years of
age but his uncles, the Sewels, were both mar
ried and leave families Mr.. Lees body was
brought to this city and inferred yesterday af-
ternoon in Greenmount Cemetery, the Rev.
Henry Lee assistant pastor Of ST. Paul's Church
officiating.
The remains Of Jas' N. sewell were buried on
ing largely attended And tie relnains of Septi-
mus D. Sewell were inferred at the same place
yesterday morning. He leaves wife and six
| children