New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-04
Appalling Catastrophe.
The Richland Beacon SAYS:

The Richland Beacon says:
The most heartrending catastrophe 1t has
ever been our misfortune to clronlcle was
that of the drowning of G. -C.-Haiieck and
his Young sisters, Rachel and Mary, in Bguf
river, at Stafford's ferry, between this place
and Girard, on Tuesday last, the twenty
seventh instant, under the following clrcum-
stances: mai
He had been to Mount Lebanon after his
sisters. who were students in the Baptist
Female Institute there, was returning home
with them in a carriage. Arriving at the
river, and finding the boat on that (west)
side, it is presumed he led the mules down
the bank, which is very steep, his sisters re-
manning in the carriage. The boat not being
securely fastened, was pushed off from the
shore either by the mules stepping upon it,
or the wheels striking it, as Mrs. Stafford,
who was in her house on the east bank of
the river, says when her attention was first
attracted to the terrible scene by the screams
of the girls, he and the mules appeared to
be in the boat, and the carriage in the
water, and the girls elinging to it,. The
mules were soon drawn out into the river.
The noble and heroic brother sprang to the
assistance of his beloved sisters, and strug-
gled hard to save them; but, alas! all went
down together, and were drowned before
those whose attention was attracted to the
A more striking instance OF selfsacrific-
ing devotion was never witnessed. This
noble young man was swallowed up in the
river with "a sister on each arm, dying in the
effort to save the lives of those loved ones.
No boats were near at hand on the east
ern side but Mr. Smith and two or three
freedmen swan over and tried to reach
them by diving. They went down so quick
it was impossible to reach them before they
n,,ly StaA, nj ,r1,%@ 81,
to Rayville; hooks were prepared and a
number of us repaired to the spot, and soon
succeeded by the united efforts of all the
anxious friends there assembled in fishing
up the bodies. They were near each other,
fifteen or twenty feet from shore, in about
twelve feet of water, and about fifty yards
below the landing. The mules and carriage
were found very near the landing and only
few feet from shore, but in very deep
water.
C. C. Halleck was an exemplary Chris
tan, a worthy member of the Baptist
church, moral and upright, rendering him a
useful citizen, beloved by all who knew
him, having no enemy, but many warm
friends. He was an affectionate brother,
using every effort to educate his orphan
sisters and brothers. He married Mrs. M.
+. Martin, on Sunday, the eighteenth in
slant, started from home on the Tuesday
following, never to see his bride again.
Rachel, the elder sister was lovely girl,
just budding into womanhood, who, through
the efforts of her fond brother, would soon
have become an accomplished lady and an
ornament to the society of Richland parish.
Mary was sweet little girl. of eleven or
twelve years of age, and would soon have
followed her sister into the sphere of USE
fulness and attraction.
Never have we witnessed such universal
gloom and sorrow in community as that
Occasioned by this sad calamity. But who
can describe the inconsolable grief of che
bride-widow and the two young orphan
brothers, who remain to mourn their ire
parable loss!
Truly the ministrations of Providence are
mysterious.