The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-12
DEATH BY DROWNING.
MARTINS FERRY IN MOURNING.
Three Young Men Lose Their Lives
while out Rowing on the Ohio
Riyer-Jas. Greer Proves
Hero by Saving
the Life OF
COmrade.

Wednesday evening, about 9 o'clock,
the quiet village OF Martins Ferry was
thrown into state of excitement by
report that three well-known young men,
while out rowing in light skiti, had
been drowned. The sad news flashed
over the village with such rapidity ths:
within one hour alter the report had
gained circulation hundreds OF persons had
gathered on the river bank, and were
rushing TO and fro in wild excitement,
iEquiring who the unfortunate young
men were, and whether they had been
saved or lost. Mothers rung their hands,
ard fathers fastened TO secure skitis for
the purpose of finding the drowned
Young men. 1t seems that six young
men, Samuel Milligsn, Jr, son Of
samuel Miligan; Herby CrOwl,
son of j. p. Crowl, Frank Mckim,
son OF G. w. Mcklm, James Greer, son
of T. j. Greer, Visit Kerr, son Of Mayor
Kerr, and Thomas Jordan, brother OF j.
=. Jordan, druggist, went out in q light
skif for the purpose OF rowing, and
when about midway in the river, oppo-
site Robert Sweeney's brick yard, where
Jordan and Greer made a change
at the oars, the skif dipped
and begun to Eli with water. All the
young men jumped out except Jordan
who SAID, 81 cannot swim" and remained
in the skiti until it was filled with water,
when he sprang from the sinking skill
into the river and secured an oar, after
which he followed for help. When Jor-
dan called for assistance, Greer, who had
started ID swim to the shore, returned and
put him on the inverted skitt and said
hold on until 90 ashore and get
another skill" Greer drew of his coat
and threw it on the skitf, and swan to-
ward the shore where he met Nick
Neil, who had broken loose skih and
tore up a seat with which he YVES pad
ding the skif TO the rescue of those in
the water. Greer entered the skitt with
Neil and returned TO aid his comrades,
two of whom he saw sink 10 rise 10
more. They then got Jordan in the
skill and took him ashore at the Buck
eve Glass Works, herr, who is good
swimmer, saved himself by swimming out.
As soon as he had gotten on shore he ran
up town TO Jordon's drug store and gave
the alarm. DR.. Williams and j. Z. Jordan
went down to the river, where they met
Neil and Greer taking young Jordan
up town. Upon questioning Greer, 1t
was learned that Milllgan, Crowl and
McKlm were still missing. Search was
Immediately instituted by DR.. Williams
and j. p. Jordan, who crossed over the
river IN a skitf to the West Vir-
giDia shore, along which they
searched for the missing ones,
whom they were unable to find. After
searching until twelve o'clock Wednes
day night, those who were looking tor
the drowned young men returned to their
homes to await daylight.
Early yesterday morning many per-
sons in skltls, with drag hooks, lines and
seins began to fish for the bodies of those
who were drowned All day the search
was continued until o'clock in the after
noon, when the body OF young McKim
was found, and about two hours later
thst OF young Milligan. Crowl had not
been found at O'Clock last evening, at
which hour our reporter left.
Inc sudden QeaLn OF THESE young men
has cast a deep gloom over the whole
! community, and hundreds of anx-
ious sympsthizcrs lined the banks
of the river all day yesterday awaiting
the result of the efforts TO recover the
bodies. The respective ages Of those
drowned ranged from seventeen to
twenty years. They were all bright,
intelligent young boys, just budding into
manhood, and were highly respected by
all who knew them, for their manly vir-
tues. twas thought late last evening that
the body of Crowl would be found before
midnight, rs the sesrchers thought they
had hold on it at the time Mllligsn
was caught.
The afflicted parents have our most
heartfelt: sympathy in this, their hour OF
grief.