Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-04-18
A Distressing Accident at Mar
tins Ferry-Three Young Men
Drowned.


A most distressing accident occurred
over at Martins Ferry Wednesday
evening. The circumstances, as we
were able to CLEAN them yesterday, are
rs follows: Shortly after shutdown six
doys named Frank McKim, Herbert
Crowi, Peter Milligan, Thomas s.
Jordan Wilson Kerr and James Greer
started out for pleasure ride in skiff
about II feet long. They rowed up to
point opposite Marshal's old coal
bank, when Jordan proposed to relieve
Greer in rowing, and for that purpose
stepped over Kerrr's seat. In doing so
the skiff tipped to one side, and when
he drew back it tipped again to the
other side, and careened so much as to
take in a great deal of water. This
frightened the boys and they all jump.
ed out into the river, and the skiff
turned bottom up. They all struck
out for the Ohio shore except Jordan,
who could not swim, and Greer who
remained to help him. They seemed
perfectly confident OF their ability to
make the shore. Jordan was assisted
to the top Of the skiff by Greer, after
which Greer pulled off his coat and
struck out in the wake of his COM
paniOns. He saw Milligan and McKim
of good cheer aud push ahead, which
they seemed to be doing. Jordan CALL
ed to the shore from his place on the
skiff for help, and was heard by a
young man named Neil, who at once
tore loose a skiff lying at the shore,
and with nothing but one Of the seats
of the skiff for paddle put out to the
rescue. McKim had been heard to
cali for help once or twice before he
went down. When a short distance
out Neil met Greer who had reached a
point where he could wade, and where
he got into the skitf with Mel and
went back with him to rescue Jordan.
Reaching Jordan, they rescued him
and then put out rs speedily as pos.
sible for the Ohio shore. Kerr mean
while had reached the shore and rails
Ell the alarm. The people Came rush.
ing to the scene in great numbers and
not finding McKim, Milligan or Crowl,
begun to drag the river for them.
The search was continued up to mid
night but without success and was re-
sumed again yesterday morning. Hun
dred5 of thrOnged the banks of the
river and the water vas black with
boats searching for the dead bodies.
About three o'clock in the afternoon
the body of young McKim was caught
by the grab-hoOks at Il point about the
Blast Furnace, about One-fouth the
distance across the river on the Ohio
side. The body was taken to the re-
sidence of his grief-stricken parents,
and the search continued for the other
two bodies. About two hours later
the body of young Milligan was found
near McKim'S. His limbs showed
signs of cramps, and ii was thought
that his failure 10 reach the shore was
caused by this circumstance.
Up to 8 o'cl ,ck last night the body
of young CroWl had not been found,
but is was thou yht that the grab hooks
had struck his clothes once or twice
during the searrh and had lost their
hold.
1t is needless to say that this de-
deplorable accident ht+ east gloom
over the entire community of Martins
Ferry. Great sympathy i manifested
by everybody for the affi ted families.
Every effort will he mad" TO recover
the yet missing body of young Crowl.
Wheeling Intelligencer Friday.