The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-03-23
DRowN1se OF E. E. sHANKs.-We

are inexpres sibly panied to learn that
Mr.. E. E. Shauks was drowned
Thursday evening, while attempting
to cross the river in light skitf from
Cofeld's Point Houmas place to the |
opposite side. A brisk breeze was
blowing, and the water was so rough |
that a brother. in law of Mr.. Shanks,
who had started across with him, be-
came apprehensive and insisted upon
returning. Nothing daunted, MIR.
Shanks concluded to attempt the
crossing alone. When last observed
he seemed to be exerting himself
greatly at the oars, and the skiff, car
ried by wind and current, was going
rapidly down stream. Little appre-
hension was felt by his friends on
shore, however, as iheT supposed he
had concluded to visit store some dis
lance below, instead of going over to
Burnside's Houmas store, for Which
point he had started. But as night
approached and he did not return,
his friends became alarmed, and yes
terday their worst fears were realized
by the discovery of the skiff floating
upside down in Romans eddy, oppo-
site College Point, St. James parish.
A broken rowlock and oar told the
tale; the accident had happened
while the occupant of the skiff was
rowing heavily in the endeavor to
counteract the effect of wind and
waves upon his course, and falling
backwards on or over one side of the
light vessel be caused it to capsize.
Being Hurried by the mishap and the
unexpected gravity of his situation,
and exhausted from his exertions, it
is not to be wondered that, although
an excellent swimmer he lacked
either the strength or the presence of
mind to seize the skiff and keep him.
self afoat until succor could reach
him. Search has been and is still
being made for the body, but up to
this evening there are no tidings of
its discovery.
Sad as the death of such an estima-
ble young man would be under any
circumstances, it becomes doubly
mournful from the fact that by this
cruel stroke of destiny a young wife,
who but seven mouths ago plighted
her troth. to the deceased, entering
with him upon life of joyful promise,
is now a widow, her bright hopes
blasted and the partner of her new
found happiness transformed from
vigorous, warm hearted manhood to
an inanimate corpse, borne away in the
relentless depths of a mighty river.
We can estimate from our own feel
| ings what must be the anguish OF
those to whom the deceased was near
and dear. Our acquaintance with Mr..
Shanks dates from only seven months
ago, but in that brief period We had
learned to esteem him highly, as all
must have done who were brought in
contact with him. He had lived il
Ascension since 1872, and up to Sep.
TENDER last was employed in Burn
sides Houmas store. On the 18th o.
that month he was married to Miss
Josephine j. Davis, sister-in-law OF
Mr.. J. c.. Cofield, and established il
business as keeper of Hampton store
on the Cofeld place, where he has
since resided. Last week he was ap'
pointed member of the Jury Com
mission for this parish, but was des
! tined never to perform the functions
of the position. He was member o
r Orient Masonic Lodge, New Orleans
: was % years and 10 months of age
His mother resides in New Orleans
q with his two brothers, sister and tive
= half sisters. Mr.. II. C. Brand, an in
innate friend of the deceased, leave
9 for New Orleans o-day, upon TIN
sorrowful mission of imparting tt
o them the news of the sad misfortune
Mr.. John H. Shanks, editor of the Id
erville South, was an uncle of the un
fortunate young man whose life ha
g been so suddenly and Unexpected.
q sacrificed. To the grief stricken rel
atives of the beloved dead, we exten'
heartfelt sympa thy.
BASE BALL.-There is a fair pros
= pect of a revival of that general in
II i