Daily Republican., 1880-12-06
THRoUGn THE ICE.
Three Youthful Skaters Drown eu
ia sheiIpSs Creek--A Fatal acs OF
Daring Ia Crossing Rotten ice.

Three Youthful skaters Drown ed
ia sheiipSG Creek "A Fatal acs OF
Daring Ia CrOSstnG Rotten ice.
The most shocking drowning acciden,
which ever occurred in Wilmington took
piaes Saturday afternoon when three
lads-Thomas J. Wilson, William II.
Bacon, Jr., and Jacob c. Cole, lost their
livos while playiag upon the ice on
she llPot creek. 1t seems that shortly
after noon on Saturday party Of lads,
whose ages range between IL and Is
years, started for the marshes, to play
what Is known among the boys as
"leather bender" 10 this party we're
Cole, Bacon and Wilson, and William
Clouzsr, Robert Edwards, Sherman
Biddle, Frank Cole, Howard Bngls,
Joseph Guthrie and Harry Blythe.
Before going on the ice taey played
"SbipnY," and in crossing a sluics
Wilson broke in, but was helped out,
with no hurt done furthsr than receiv.
ing thorough wetting. The ice was
broken around the edges and young
Clouzer laid board across so they
could all get on the ice. Thsy then went
over toward Pusey's ice house where q
number OF boys and girls were skating,
and they all got on the ice and com
men0ed TO slide. In little while Will
SOD, Clouzer, the two Coles, a lad
namsd Mulliu and Bacon, proceeded
down the creek to WaltOn's ice house.
Clonzsr went ahead and tried the ice.
FindingIt weak he came back and
managed to reach the ios house soaffOld.
Wilson and Cole concluded 10 go on,
and Bacon started ahead to show them
the way. Biddle called TO them to
come back, and the next moment the
loe broke and Wilson and Coils went
in. Bacon advanced to where the ice
was broken. Cole had disappeared
and Wilson was struggling on the sur
face, graphing at the ice.
Young Bacon took off his coat and
taking it by one sleeve threw 1t toward
the struggling boy, bat could not reach
hiIn While he was doing this the ice
broke vita MIN and hs Instantly suuk
with TIE cry, "Im gone Gsd save
me ~
With more presence Of miud than 10
usual with boys ia such a dilemma
they got board and showed it along
the ice toward their imperiled play
mates, bnt it would no reach them.
ClOuzsr then ran mp the creek about
three quarters OF mile for AL. Win.
gates cunning skin and with assis.
tAnce slid it down on the los. After
great trouble he broke the ice SO the
Uoat could aoat and he accompanied by
some others went out and picked up
Wilson, who had not sunk, but who all
this time had besn clinging to the edge
of the ice, with his head above water
He was nearly frozen, and was convey
ed across the fields to the nearest house
that Of Samuel Bush near Brandy.
wine station. DR.. Ksables was sum
monsd, but the lad was dead from the
exposure when tho physician arrived.
Samuel Weaver and Jacob Wink, got
boat hook aud went out again in the
boat. In few minutes they had re-.
covered the bodies of the two other
boys. OF course life was extinct for
they had been in the water for nearly
an hour. The water in which the
boys we're drowned was about Z fest
deep. The coroner inquired into the
deaths in the evening.
The boys are all well known around
town. William II. Bacon, Jr., was IA
years old and a son of ex policeman
William IL. Bacon, who lives At 6l3
east Eighth street.
Thomas J. Wilson was about 13 years
old. His mother il a widow aud has
one other Guild. She lives at Gil Lem
bard strset.
Jacob Cole was only about IL yeIrs
of age. His parents live nsar Sixth
aud Spruce streets.