Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-08-18
A SAD AFFAIR.
Mr.. j. l.. Written and Daughter Drawn.
ed-A Sad Sequel to a Picnic.

Not lately have we been called upon to
chronicle so sad an event, happening in our
midst, as that of the drowning of Mr. j. L.
Written and his daughter Emma, at Ap-
pletree Point, Wednesday, some three miles
nor tn of this city. The particulars of the
sorrowful occurrence are mainly as follows
Wednesday afternoon, a party consisting of
Mr. Written and wife, Emma Written aged
l2years. son of Mrs. Whittens (she being
Mr.W 5 second wife, about the same age and
Mrs.G. f. Morse and daughter Alice aged ID
years, all of this city, drove out to Apple
tree Point, 10 enjoy picnic, and spend the
afternoon on the shore of the little bay
that sets in on the south side Of the Point.
Soon after arriving there, and while Mr.,
! Written was setting up a little tent, taken
along for shelter. the young ladies. Emma
and Alice, dOnned their bathing suits and
walked into the lake. The water is very
shallow here. and some twenty-five or thirty
rods out l. only about four feet deep. About
that distance out, however, in the direc-
ton taken by the bathers, as search for the
bodies DISCLOSED. Is channel, in which the
water Is six to eight feet deep, and the bot
tom j. Shiny and covered with tangled
weeds Into the edge Of this the young
ladies walked, beyond their depth, and
were soon struggling in the water. Mr..
Nhltten's attention being directed 10
them, he Immediately diyestsd himself
OF his boots and most OF his clothing, and
went to the rescue Before he arrived at
the spot, Miss Morse had made desperate
struggle for her life, and. though she had
been under water three times, had succeed
cd in getting a foothold in shallow water
and subsequently, reached the shore. Mr..
Written attempted to aid his drowning
daughter, but got into the channel, or
hole. went down, and father and daughter
were seen 10 more until taken dead from
the water. Mr.. Asa b. Witherell, who was
practIeing on the shooting grounds of the
Burlington Rife Club, near by, and young
man with him, hearing the cries Of the par
ties on shore FASTENED to the spot, and
made strenuous efforts TO rescue Mr.. w hitten
and daughter. and after the lapse of twenty
minutes succeeded in getting the former to
the shore, when every effort was made to
resuscitate him. but without avail; life was
extinct. Mr.. Whittcn's body was found
in an upright position. the feet stuck in the
Shiny button. the top of the head within an
inch Of the surface Ct the water Meantime,
Mr.. Bruce Cartwright, on the same errand
as Mr.. Witherell. had arrived. and lent his
aid in the search for the body Of MIS-
Written. After "a search of nearly two
hours, conducted BY diving and swimming,
her body was discovered by Mr.. Cartwright.
some distance further out, 10 water about
eight ieet in depth, being carried from the |
shore By the under-current.
The news Of the drowning having reached |
the city.~cyeral friends and neighb5rs of the
family proceeded 10 the scene Of the disas-
ter, and accompanied the bereayed survivors
and the dead to the residence, on Centre |
street, arriving about six O'Clock 1t was
indeed a sad return for party going out fall |
of life and hope, to enioy an afternoons |
pleasure.
Mr.. Written was 81 years Of age. He /
was for many years q resident Of Essex
Junction, engaged in the manufacture Of
gloves. About three and half years ago |
be removed his business to this city, and |
has lived here since. q much respected and
esteemed citizen. The community viii .
deeply sympathizs with his family in this
their two-fold bereavement, coming upon
them under circumstances 50 peculiarly |
painful.
The funeral vii take place, tomorrow,
friday at II a. IN. from the house on
Center street, and at > p, m, at Essex Cen
trc