The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-03-27
THE DROWNING OF JOHN @. SUI.
LIVAN.

Ivan, Clarence w. Millett and Hyma
: Hilzheim, took an extensive boa
Y ride over the backwaters Of the Pear
! finally rowing into the main stream
and passing under the railroad bridg
: about 2 o'clock In the afternoon. HeI
: the current is swift. Mr.. Sullivan 50
at the helm and steered the Graf
There was good deal of frolicsom
recklessness displayed by him. MI
Howard and James Barr were sit
ing on the high bank ut the west en'
of the bridge, when the frail craft ant
amateur oarsmen undertook to pas
under it. The skiff was forceC
under the bridge once, according
to their presentation of the facts
and then drifted back. Again tn,
party essayed to paddle the boat nj
the swift current, Mr.. S. throwing thu
skiff out in the middle of the stream
in spite of the eXpostulations of hi
companions, and their appeals to keel
nearer shore. After they had gone
about 40 or so ards above the bridge
the skiff being suddenly turned tt
the current, dipped water, filled in
stantly, and sunk down like fisher
mans hook. There was nothing left
but for each one to make the shore as
best he could. Fortunately the party
had of their coats. Mr.. Millett being
at the center, struck for the western
bank, with the exclamation, "Swim
boys, swim, for your lives !" He was
followed by Mr.. Hilzheim, each trying
to swim diagonally across the current
for the western bank, fearing to APP
proach the tressel work of the bridge
lest they might be dashed to pieces in
the surging of the current against the
timbers. Millett reached the shore
exhausted, Hilzheim gave out while
yet within few yards of the bank,
and cried for help. Mr.. Barr waded
out in the stream and pulled him out
on the land where he lay several
minutes thoroughly overcome.
But poor young Sullivan! Alas,
what of him AS soon as the boat sunk
lie went down with it, but rose again
and cried "help! help! Mr.. Howard
from the bank, Immediately seized a
plank went out on the bridge and
hallooed to him to swim down the
current to the bridge; but the imperil-
ed man was unable to hear him or
Indifferent. to his words. His strug-
giles were feeble and only for few
minutes, when he went down again
to rise no more! 1t is supposed that
he was hopelessly s:rangled when he
sunk the first time, or was seized with
cramp, or caught in one of the fear
full whirlpools which characterize the
Pearl at high stage Of water. At
any rate the eyewitness to this
terrific and heart-piercing scene all
agree that he made very little effort
to swim, although he was known to be
good swimmer.
Mr.. Howard says that as soon as
Millett had recovered his breath after
reaching the shore, and learning that
one the companions was left in the
middle of the stream, he began to pull
off his shoes with a view of plunging
in to the rescue. OF course this move
ment of hardihood was prevented, as
the unfortunate man had several mo-
meuts before passed beyond the reach
of mortal aid.
John Chambers Sullivan, was the
son of George and Anna Sullivan, of
this count, and nephew of the Nirden
old, successful and respected |
of this city. He was just
the threshold of manhood,
being % years of age, and was
young man of promise and great
of character. The idol of
lis lduucIJ IIC pIluS vi liio hAolhNAi
md the favorite brother of his sisters,
lis loss is to them stunning blow
rom which it is hard to recover.
Although this saddening event
brew IL shadow over our city, yet
here is no disposition anywhere to
ttach blame to any one. OF course
he could have been saved it would
ave carried joy and eXstacy to the
carts of father, mother, sisters,
rother and friends; but moments
election convinces all how utterly
it was for any human aid
} reach him under the circumstances.
he first exhibition he made after
sing to the surface Of the angry
-aters showed that the shadow of
DOM rested upon him, and all human
gencies were powerless to save.
Up to the hour of our going to press, .
Il efforts to recover the body have
cen fruitless, the water being fully
,rty feet deep where the accident
ccurred.