The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-07-31
EHrGHrFUL DRowNIxa AFFA1r

Two Boys and Two Girls PeriA While
-.... Sailing.
Az Auburn, Maine, on the 9th Of
July, six young persons. Eugene, Ju-
Illus and Cecil Libby, brothers, their
cousin Addie Libby, and FlorIua Tur.
ner, young people from thirteen to
eighteen years Of age, went out In an
old, leaky boat on Auburn (Malne)
Lake. The result, gathered from one
OF the survivors, is thus related by the
Lewiston Journal:
The boat had slowly moved toward
the homeward landing, and only about
fifty feet lntervened between them and
land, when, as Charles says, without
moments warning, the boat sank be.
meath them-gOing down, rs he says,
not one end foremost, but sinking hor.
izontally. lis hapless occupants all
went down 10 the bottom with II, Char.
les, Eugene and julius could swim.
Addie and Cecil shrieked with terror,
as the boat filled and sank. Flora was
speechless. They had not even time TO
jump from the boat, and, locked In
each others' arms, went down together,
The boat slipped from under them
and arose at another point and tloated
Oft, Its sides just visible on the surface,
AS the unfortunate Victims rose 10 the
surface, there was nothing for them 10
grasp but one another. The boat was
out OF their reach. one or two old pad.
dies and bits OF boapds did not avail 10
aid them. Addie caught hold OF Flora
Charles, who could swim, caught
Flora, and finding they were sinking,
pushed Addle Oh, hoping to save him.
self and his sister, but FIora grasped
him around the neck and disabled him
from swimming, and both sank In.
stantly to the bottom. And here little
Charley says, finding that unless he re-
leased himself from her grasp both
must die, he resolved he must leave
her to perish and try 10 save himself,
but, he adds, his heart breaking with
grief, I had a regular battle wllhther
to escape But at last he Wrenched
himself from her death grasp and arose
to thesuriace, almost exhausted. The
distance 10 shore was but slight, and
he was Just able to swim few feet.
far enough to touch bottom, and
was helped ashore BY boy who hNp-
pened TO be near.
When Charles pushed Addle from
Flora's grasp, Eugene took her and
tried to save her, but she clung to him
In such a way that he was unable to
swim with her, and both sank TO the
bottomi SO to.aave his own life he was
forced to release himself from her Rrasp.
As the girls arose the econd time Addle
and Cecil grasped Julius aud bore him
down, and, no doubt, they perished In
each others embrace. J1stas Charles
got ashore, he turned around 10 see
what could be done, and saw Eugene
swimming just behind him almost ex.
housted, crying, "Help. rm sinking. %
The boy on the shore-PIlny CasweIl.
who had now come to the rescue, got n
long pole and extended II to Eugene.
who had strength enough left to grasp
II, and was drawn half conscious
to the shore, where, after u short
time he vas restored 80 that be
was able TO walk. Just as Eugene
cried for help, Charles, who had
reached the shore, looking further In
the rear Of Eugene, saw Flora's hair
floating on the surface, and part OF her
dress, but be saw them only for a mo-
ment, antSthen ali was gone. -Four
hapless victims had perished-two
promising dhd beautiful girls, two
Christian boys, sons OF q devoted min.
lister, himself recently gone 10 his
heavenly home. One OF these sons
was studying OF the Maine Stats Sem
mary preparing for college. Both OF
them, together with Eugene, who was
saved, were TO have been baptized and
admitted 10 the Free Baptist Church
(Rsv. Mr.. Health's) next Sabbath. It
Is singular and melancholy coincidence
that the three stricken families have
each one child left. The bodies were
found near the place where they went
down, In about an hour and a halt
| after the accident.