Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-06-16
A Sad Ending.
A PLEASURE TRIP ADRUPTLY ENDRE BY THE
DROWNING OF TWO OF THE PARTY.

A PLEASURE TRIP ADBUPrIY ENDRE BY THE |
DROWNING OF TWO OF THE PARTY.
On Saturday morning a party of about ten
young men, from Philadelphia, members of the
oxford Literary Society, came to this city the
10 O'Clock train, for the purpose OF recreatng for
a few hours along the banks Of the Brandywine.
On their arrival at the stream, the entire party
were fairly snrdptured with the grand and ro-
mantically beautiful scene spread before them,
and their shouts of admiration, as each succee
ing beauty burst upon their vision, attracted tte
attention OF all in their immediate vicinity.
Their Joy was most exhuberent, and they spFang
from rock. to rock, gazed upon the placid water
and lofty trees, and gave full vent to their over
flowing feelings, little dreaming of the sad and
terrible event, which was to turn to darkness and
gloom, day which at first secm prolific OF unal-
loyed pleasure.
With shout and song and merry jest the party
pursued their way aloRg tho rocky valley OF the
BrandywlAe, until they arrived at a point near
Riddles cotton mills. Here they stopped to rest
and being rather warm, the cool water soon temp
ted one OF them to propose bath. A young man
named Morton Stafford went in first, and was fol-
| lowed by Caleb l.. Haddock and Frank Yost. The
latter were unable to swim, but Stafford, who was
a good swimmer, had promised to give them in
structons Stafford stepped into the water, fol-
lowed by the other two, but had only advanced
three or four feet when they reached a point
| where the bottom made precIpitous descent, and
they were oil plunged into about twenty feet oil
water.
Stafford fell in first, and the other two fell OF
top OF, aud clung to him, bearing him towards th'
bottom. He made desperate efforts TO bring bott
his companions to II e top, but he was unsuccess
full, aud it was with the greatest difficulty that he
was enabled to save himself He rose to the sur
face OF the water, but the other two sank, to rise
no more. rtert.rr .v.lr--
The rest of the party Wers Immediately notified
the sad occurrence and made effort to recover tn
, bodies OF the unfortunate young men. The EN-
pioyees OF Riddles mill were notified Of the event
and some of them assisted In the search, by diving
About two o'clock, man named Bradley, succeed
y ed in bringing up the body Of young Yost. Th
efforts to bring up the body Of Haddock, by th
divers, were unsuccessful, and drags were procuI
ed, by means Of which it Wrs recovered, about foU
. o'clock.
Z Mayor Simms had been promptly notified Of tn
= sorroWing event, and ascertaining the residenc
n OF the parents of the young men, telegraphed
y them the fate of their children. The Coroner Wi
also notified, and RitsT the recovery of the bodie
:, summoned Jury and held an inquest. The Jul
- rendered a verdict Of accidental drowning. IT
= bOdirs were then s wen to the friends Of the d
3 ceesed, who took them to Philadelphia, on the 4:
Y p. NJ. train.
y Haddock, one Of the unfortunate young me
~ was eyed IL yeaIs, aud was the son Of Mr.. John
y Haddoek, the well-knoWn job printer, ON Thi
"a street, below Chestnut He resided with his fat
y, or, ct 1886 North Fifteenth street. Yost, his U
~ fortunate companion, was about 10 years old.
~ resided with his widowed mother, at 1906 COlu
= blA avenue. YOst and Haddock were connect
~ with the 0ElOEd PFosbsterian Church, and w
5s much respected end beloved by all who knew the
n There sudden deaths created great sympathy 4
We excitement among their many, friends and c
IN quaintanceS, and profound erief i'm the hdnseho
W. where few hours before the cheerful good-by h
y been heard.