Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-04
SAD ACCIDENT
Al NoOshead Lake-A Rhode Island MA"
and his Wife Drowned.

Providence. r. l.. Oct. 3. private dis-
patch saws that Caleb Fiske Harris and wre
of Providence, were drowned Sunday night
in MoOsehead Lake. The parties went out
in A canoe to sail in Cowan's Cove Inc ca
noe in some way was overturned. and Harris
and wife were both drowned. Bodies not
vet recovered.
KrsEo. Oct. 3. The bodies of Mr.. and
Mrs. Harris, who were drowned yesterday,
were recovered this forenoon.
An inquest, held this afternoon, on the
bodie, of Caleb Fiske Harris and wife, showed
that the accident by which they lost their
life. was due TO their own carelessness, both
in not having the services of an experienced
guide and in not following the caution OF
sitting in the canoe. Mr.. Harris and wife
with colored servant in one canoe, two ladies
from Baltimore, with guide in another, and
Dr. Van Bibber of Baltimore, in a third.
went out to Cowan's Cove, about miles
distant to take an out of door dinner. The
day was fine and the water smooth, but about
half past three they started homeward. Mr.
Harris canoe in advance. After leaving the
went off to the left of Woody Island.
Mr.. Harris following the shore at the
right of the Island till he came
to Outlook Cove, which he crossed in d.
rect line for the Kineo House, which was in
plain view from two to three miles off. As
they turned the point to cross tire cove, a
flaw of wind had made ruff sea and the
canoe shipped little water. Mrs. Harris
involuntarilv threw herself to the side of the
canoe, and being very heavy, and the servant
being inexperienced in handling canoe, it
went over, throwing all into the water. Mr.
Harris held on to one end of the canoe,
while his servant clasped hold of Mrs. Har-
ris across the other end, and they foated in
this way twenty or thirty minutes, when Mrs.
Harris let 90 her hold and sunk. Mr.. Harris
held on some five or ten minutes longer
when he sunk. Hodges, the servant, chung
to the canoe and was drifted ashore where
he was found by a relief party sent out for
them on account of their non arrival. He
was nearly exhausted when found and had
Invested himself of nearly all his clothing.
After being warmed and revived, he told the
sad story and pointed out as near as he
could where the bodies could be found. To-
day. parties went out at daylight, and at $50
the body of Mr.. Harris was found some forty
rods from where the canoe drifted ashore
in about - feet of water. Mrs. Harris was
not recovered till four hours later, some 40
rods further out than Mr. Harris, and in
about l6 or Is feet of water. The bodies
had been properly cared for and awaited the
arrival of an ambulance from Bangor. and
friends from Providence Mr.. Harris watch
stopped at twenty minutes before five,
accident. Besides using their servant
instead of a guide, Mr.. and Mrs. Harris used
seats higher than those ordinarily used, plac-
ing them on the air cushions inflated to their
fullest capacity, a most treacherous seat in
a canoe. The movement made by Mrs. Har-
ris when the wave struck the canoe, was as
celebrated by the air cushions. and this caused
the overturning of the canoe. The sad event
has thrown gloom over all here, but the
thorough examination made has shown that
the accident was one which has no parellel
in the history of the lake, and would not
have occurred had the ordinary and usual
precautions been taken, and the fault for
which, rested entirely upon the unfortunate
yirtiu,s Tho yor,Iint will no ropInroI II,
accordance with the above facts.