The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-09-02
A STATEN ISLAND HORROR.
Drowned In Each Other's Arms-PaIn-
= fuI Accident Near TottsnVIIle.

Drowned In Each Other's Arms-Paln-
ful Accident Near TOttsnviIle.
From the New York sun. August 49,
Cornelius Orrick, Aged IL, Henry 0rrick,
aged 7, and Ann Elizabeth Robbins, aged
16, we're drowned on Friday evening, of
the south shore, Staten Island, near the
Prices Bay lightship. Early in the after
noon young Orrick, who is by trade q
painter, and resided with his father In
Richmond Valley, took Miss Robbins, his
sister, Miss Louisa Orriok, and his little
brother out for sail in a large oyster skIff,
belonging to Mr.. Butler. After sailing
about some hours they returned to the
starting point, and it was here that the ac-
cident by which three of the party lost
their lives occurred.
It is the custom there to tie the oyster
skiffs TO stakes about twenty-five or thirty
yards from the shore, instead of bringing
them to the beach, on account of the surf,
which would knock them all to pieces at
low water if they were beached. Small
boats, termed batteaus are used 10 60 to
and from these skiffs, these batteaus only
carrying two people.
After the skiff had been made fast to the
stake, Cornelius Orrick put Miss Robbins
in the batteau, and then got in himself to
row her ashore, intending to return for his
sister and brother. AS he was starting
away, his brother asked if he might come
too, but was told that there was not room
enough, and that he must wait. With the
willfulness Of spoilt child, however, just
as the boat was moving, he jumped on
board, and alighting on the side, the tiny
craft was overturned in an instant
Instantly Miss Robbins threw her arms
around the elder brothers neck, and at
the same time the little boy grasped him
round the leg, the three going down lite
rally locked together. Miss Orrick, who
was in the skiff, screamed for assistance,
and young man named John Williams
was the first to arrive, too late, however,
to be of any service.
Williams dived down just at the spot
where the boat upset, and found Cornelius
Orrick and Miss Robbins clasped in each
others arms, but he was unable to lift
them. A seine net was then procured, and
the two bodies recovered; but the little
boys body was not recovered until Satur-
day afternoon, when it was found close to
the boat, which would favor the SUPPOSE
ton that he clung to the inside of the
boat when she was sinking and
could not extricate himself Miss Orick
showed above water after they first went
down. All three corpses wore a most
peaceful look, and no one could have sup
posed but that they had died quite peace
ably. The Orrick and Robbins families
have been intimate for many years, and
Cornelius Orrick had for some time enter
tanned the warlnest affection for Miss Rob-
bins, although they were not formally be-
trothed.
A somewhat touching incident was no
ticed when the bodies were found, Corne-
lius having the young lady's beads round
his neck. Little did she think when she
put them on that they never would be ia
ken off again. He was buried with them
on.
The funeral took place on Sunday from
the residence Of Mr.. Orrick, in Richmond
Valley. Shortly before 3 o'clock the pro-
cession left the house for the Bethel Meth
odist Episcopal Church at Tottenville,
where a large number of people who had
been acquainted with the deceased had as
sembled to pay their last tribute of respect
to the dead. The church was literally
GRAINED full, and large number had to
stand in the doorway.
The coffins were placed in front of the
altar. They were very plain, with silver
nails, and a wreath of white flowers was
placed upon each. The services were con-
ducted by the Rev. S. B. Boney. and a
touching address was delivered by the Rev.
Mr.. Babcock, upon the painful story of
their deaths.
All the neighbors speak in the highest
terms of Cornelius Orriek, and his poor
old father said his boy was the prop of his
old age. Miss Robbins was singularly
beautiful, and had been staying at Mr.. Or
rick's some days previous to the accident
The accident created the most profound
sensation in Richmond Valley and Totem
vile, where the families were widely
known; hence the large attendance at the