Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-08-17
fsesdsy Kcrsfas, August II, 1869.
The Drowning of four Children in Lake
Observation-Disclosures of the Disaster.

The Lewiston (Maine) Journal prints
detailed account of the distressing accident
that occurred on Lake Auburn on the 51st
ult., from which We gather the following par
ticulars
sOn the shore of the lake was an old Eat
bottoned boat, perhaps ten feet long by five
feet wide, leaky, treacherous craft, whose
sides above water had been shrunk in the
sun, go that when the boat was loaded it vas
more leakY even than at other times.
"N1rs. Isaac Libby had three sons-Eu-
gene, aged eighteen; Julius, fifteen; and
Cecil, aged thirteen. Mrs. II. G. Turner's
daughter Florina was sixteen years Of age,
and her son Charles, fourteen. The young
people had been accustomed to get into the
old fat-boat and paddle about the pond for
fsh or for pleasure. On the afternoon of the
pearoh and cooked them on the shore, and
after their picnic dinner the company, con-
sisting CT si1-Eugene, Julius, Cecil, Charles
and Florina, above named, and Mr.. John
Turner's daughter Addie, aged seVenteen-
got into the boat to return.
"Eugene and julius took the oars and pad
died the old hulk elow1y through the water.
The fact that the water was treackerously
running in at the cracks in the boats sides
did not seem to attract their notice, or, if it
did, not sufficiently to alarm them. The boat
bad slowly moved toward the homeward land
iBg, and they wcre almost ready to step on
the shore of the Libby farm. Only about
fifteen feet interviewed between them and land,
when without moments warning, the boat
sank beneath them-going down, not one end
foremost, but horizontally. It's haplcss occu-
pants went down to the bottom With it. Eu-
gene, Charles and Julius could swim. Ad-
die and Cecil shrieked with terror as the boat
filed and sunk. Flora was speechless. They
had not even time to jump from the boat,
and, Locked in each others arms, went to-
gether.
''The boat s!ipp5d from under them, and
arose at another point and Roatcd off, its side
just visible on the surface. AS the unfortu-
nate victims rose to the surface, there was
nothing for them to grasp but one another.
The boat was out of their reach one or two
old paddles and bits of boards did not avail to
aid them. Addie caught hold of Flora
Charles Turner, who could swim, caught Flo
IA, and finding they were sinking, pushed
Addie of, hoping to save himself and sister,
but Flora grasped him around the neck and
disabled him from swimming, and both sank
instantly to the bottom. And hear Charley
says, uQQl00 InaL UHleSS nC ISIeaseu HlIISeIi
from her grasp both must die, he resolved he
must leave her to perish and try to save him
self, but be adds, 4 had regular battle with
her to escape At last he wrcnched himself
from her dcath-grasp, and arose to the surface
almost exhausted. The distance to the shore
was slight, and he was just able to swim
few feet, far enough to touch bottom, and
was helped ashore By boy who happened to
be near.
"When Charley pushed Addie from Flora's
grasp, Eugene took her and tried to sa7e her,
but she clung to him in such way that he
was unable to swim with her, and both sunk
to the bottom, SO to save his own life, he was
forced to release himself from her erazp.-
As the girls arose the second time, Addie aud
Cecil grasped julius and bore him down, and
no doubt they perished in each others en-
brace. just as Charles got ashore, he turned
around to see what could be done, and saw
Eugene swimming just behind him, almost
exhausted, crying Help, Pm sinking The
boy on the shore-Pliny CasBell-who had
now come to the rescue, got long pole and
extended i. TO Eugene, who had strength
enough left to grasp it, and Was draWn half,
conscious to the shoEo, whore after short
time he zas restored, SO that he was able to
walk. Just as Eugene cEied for help, Charles
who had reached the shore, looked further in
the rear Of Eugene, saw Flora's hair floating
Oh the surface and part of her dress, but he
saw them only for moment, then all was
gone"