Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-06-27

We copy from the Montpelier papers the
following details of the sad drowning acci-
dent in Calais last Sunday The pond where
it occurred Is known aS the Wheelock Pond
or more commonly as Number Ten Pond.
and is about a mile long and half mile
wide
Last Sunday, about o'clock. p. m.
party from the village and vicinity, had
been taking a boat ride to White Birch
Point, at the north end of the pond. where
picnic had been held the previous day. On
this occasion 1t was agreed. at the suggest
ion of and to please Aunt Rccta Mcknight,
to 90 over there and all take their Sunday
tea together. There were present at this
tea twenty-iour persons, men, women and
children, and all relatives.
There were four boats to convey them
back otter tea, one large one and three
small ones. Mr.. Wareham \. Chase, owner
of the large boat, took one of the smaller
boats and started to carry some of the party
across Before leaving, he requested Mr.
Lafayette Tichout. who then had charge of
the large boat, to wait until his return
Mr. Chase enioincd upon those who re-
mained that. III no case, more than ten were
to get into the large boat.
After Mr.. Chase had started, the remain
ing eighteen proposed to start back upon
the larger boat, but Mr.. Merrill induced
two Of the gentlemen to accompany him in
a small boat As the party left the shore,
Mr.. Chase, who was long distance away,
seeing them, exclaimed, My God, they
will all be drowned, and turned immedi-
ately around, shouting to them to get off,
but his warning was unheeded, although
the boat began to careen over as soon a.
they left the shore. This boat was sort of
scow. composed of two boats fastened to-
gether, side by side, with seats and railngs
to make it comfortable.
When twenty or thirty rods from shore
the water was found to be filling in quite
rapidly. On one side of the double boat
pump was used by n woman. and that side
somewhat lightcned. Meantime efforts
were made to head toward the shore till all
became panic stricken, and jumped from
one side to the other in quick succession .as
the boat dipped water. Finally all made
rush to one side, which nearly turned the
boat bottom side up. The screams of all
were fearful. and could he heard for a great
distance. They attracted a large crowd to
the shore, but of course only those in the
small boats could render any assistance.
Five of the party were drowned, viz: Mr..
LiIuNtltt iii9 WIG anu SlN-NtuT
old daughter, Mrs. Recta Mcknight widow
of Amasa Mcknight, a lady of some seventy
years. and Miss Anna Toby. eighteen years
of age,a daughter of Mr.. Elliott Toby. Miss
Toby was bright, sprightly young lady
Mr.. Tichont's little girl first went over the
side, and her father Immediately plunged
into the water after her. Mr. Tichout was
last seen pushing out stoutly for the shore
with his little girl in his left hand Consider
ably out of water. On the recovery of his
body from the water, part of the little
girls shawl was wound tightly around his
right arm and hand, and the conclusion
drawn is, he got entangled in the shawl,
and sunk to rise no more, with his child.
Mrs Mcknight and Mrs. Tichout did not
sink at all, being supported by their
clothing, but loated head downward, and
when reached were dead. Several Others
were so far gone before rescued, that some
time elapsed before they could be brought