Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-25
BY TELE6 GRAPH.
MAINE DISPATCHES.
DROWNED WHILE BATHING.



Thursday, Miss Emma Gould of Andover,
Mass, Miss Kitty Stafford and Eddie Little of
Washington, d. c., and Mr.. Greenough
Thayer of North Cambridge. all being
drowned. They were taken beyond their
depth by the undertow. Up to Friday morn
ing the bodies had not been recovered.
Further details of the drowning accident
| show that party of fifteen or twenty left
Bald Head Cliff House Thursday at 9 A. NJ,
| and drove to Ogunquit beach where they ar
rived abuut ii o'clock and entered the surf
to battle. The undertow and surf were run
ming strong, and heavy sea vas on, and al
though warned of danger in venturing too
far, nearly the whole party were swept away
by the undertow, and four were drowned.
Four others were rescued in critical condi-
tion but at last accounts were doing well.
The rest of the party reached the shore in
safety. Rev. Mr. Little of Washington, ID.
c. succeeded in rescuing his wife and one
child but his son Eddie vas drowned.
PORTSMOUTH, n. H., Aug. "a.
The complete details of the sad drowning
accident at Wells, of which meagre reports
have been sent, are as follows:
number, and their companions, who
were saved belonged either in Washington,
ID. c., or in Boston and vicinity. and were
guests at the Bald Head Cliff House, II miles
from this city, from which they started at
g. 80 this morning for Ogunquit beach. two
miles distant, in barge which runs daily for
at the Cliff is rocky and Ogunquit is level and
sandy and possesses a good surf The barge
contained IL people, viz Mrs. Mash of An
dover, Mass, Mr.. Edward Gould. prom
inent stack broker of Boston. his daughter
Emma and his young son. DR.. Little of Wash
ington. d. c., a clergyman. his wife and their
sons Eddie, Arthur, and Norton, Greenough
Thayer. aged 20 years, eldest son of Prof.
Thaver of Harvard College, Miss Kitty SAT-
ford, Harvard sophomore, daughter of Prof
Stafford of Andover, Mass, and gentleman
from Boston name not learned, and one other
party. They crossed Ogunquit river in
were seven in the water-Miss Gould. Mr.
Thayer, Miss Stafford, Eddie Little, Mrs.
Marsh and Mrs. Little. A high sea was run
ming and the wind blew stiff from the south
ward and eastward. and the surf rumbled in
high rolls, to the delight of the bathers Mr.
and Mrs. Little, and Misses Gould and SAT-
ford were hand in hand. In the meantime
the tide, which was young flood, was sweep
alton near the mouth of the river 1t was
now half past eleven, and the tide ceased
making a strong undertow a short distance
from the shore, This the bathers did not
realize. The young ladies were in high splr-
its, and pushed forward TO the deepest water,
dragging their companions. Mr.. Little becom-
ing strangled, broke from the others and
struck for the shore. A wave swept his W ife
against him and both were washed into shoal
water. Mrs. Marsh was also washed ashore
in an exhausted condition. The other young
ladies', finding themselves in great danger,
called for help. Mr.. Thayer and Eddie Lit
tie rushed to their assistance, and endeavored
to drag them to place of safety. The young
ladies were frantic with fright and this con-
tributed to their own death and the death of
their brave assistants. For a long time they
remained near the same spot. Sam Perkins
of Ogunquit village and two fishermen heard
their outcries and crossed the river to where
the bathers were and assisted Mr.. and Mrs
Little and Mrs. Marsh ashore, neglecting the
others, Perkins remarking, "They are all
right; their heads are above water and they
can swim When he looked again the four
had disappeared, and thew were seen no more.
Mrs. Marsh and Mrs. Little were insensible.
and were taken to physicians Office and
were not rescuitated until 4 o'clock in the
afternoon. Mrs. Little is nearly recovered,
but Mrs. Marsh 10 in precarious condition.
None of the bodies have yet been recovered,
and in the opinion of sea -faring men will not
be until the wind hauls in shore.
Prof. Stafford arrived early this afternoon
only to learn of the loss of his daughter. Mrs.
Little herself rushed into the water to save
her eldest son.
1t was reported today that Geo. G. Kim
ball of the New York associated press was
among the list. Mrs. Kimball was at the
Cliff House at the time Of the accident. and
proceeded to the scene and devoted her en-
tire might to caring for the resulted and or
ganizing force to recover the bodies. Farm
ers. fishermen and the entire neiehborhood
turned out and watched with lanterns through
the might, and today will continue until the
bodies are recovered. If recovered, all the
bodies will be taken to Andover, Mass, for
burial.