Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-07-18
A YACHT CLUBS UNLUCKY CRUISE.

Tho Captain Of q Pleasure Party Falls Over
board and Loses His Lifs-The Body
not Recovered.
With gay spirits and high hopes the
Pickering Bay club sailed away from
Christian street warf, Philadelphia. Mon
day morning for three weeks cruise.
Nantucket being the objective point. Six
hours latea it was tho saddest party on
the river-Michael Downs, the captain was
drowned. 1t was the eighth annual cruise
of the club, which is composed Of two
dozen young men we'll down town.
The start was made at o'clock, the warf
being drowned with friends Of the amateur
mariners. The vessel was the sooner
yacht Buckalew, which was drawn by the
tug Boulton.
As the craft passed down the barbor the
excursionists enjoyed themselves right
merrily. Everything went happily until
the putting tug and its convoy had arrived
abreast "Grubb's Lauding," twenty five
miles below Philadelphia, and short dis
tance from Marcus Hook. Downs and
Leon Eckert were frolicking ON the deck
and indulgiDg in mock sparring exhibi-
tiOn under the aliases of Sullivan and
Wilson, to the great entertainment Of the
rest of the pleasure seekers. 1t was with
in ten minutes of noop, and Downs, who
had backed to the side of the yacht, being
dazzled by the sun, turned to grasp coil
of rope. His arm slipped, aud he fell
overheard between the yacht and the tug.
Immediately all hands sp.ang to his re-
lief. In the excitement a rope intended
for Downs struck DR.. Groves, treasurer of
tho club, and precious seconds wero lost
forming a new coil. Frank Stevens jump.
ed into the water and cut the bawser hold
ing the yacht to the tug. Tho vessels fell
off and boat was lowered. Downs was
seen to rise twenty yards away and imme.
diately to disappear. 1t is supposed he
must have been crushed between the tug
and yacht when he first rose after his fall.
Every effort was made to rescue him but
without success. and attempts to recover
the body were as fruitless.
Three members of the club returned to
tue city last evening as a committee ap.
pointed to apprise Mrs. Downs of the
dreadful tidings. Samuel Bailey was the
spokesman, and the woman read the story
in his pallid face. When he informed her
that her husband was no moro she foil
with 4 scream of agony, losing conscious
ness. Up to late hour last evening she
had not recovered from the swoon.
Mr.. Downs resided at 70 S42 South
Second street, and was in the tallow bust
ness. He leaves a wife but no children.
He was about s. years old, and had been
a member Of the Pickering club three
years. He was widely known and respect
ed by all who knew him. In February
last he was elected a school director in the
Third ward Oh the regular Democratic
ticket, and bis term was to commence on
the 1st of January next.
The club has offered $50 reward for the
recovery of the body Of the drowned cap
tain. Two SlOnDS were engaged YESTERDAY
afternoon to GO The scene aud gTapp1e
for tho remains. To day the river will be
dragged from shore to shore, and neither
time nor expense will be spared to prose-
cute the search to successful finish. The
club will return to the city to day. Tho
cruise will be abandoned.