The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-08
THE SAD DROWNING.

THE SAD DROWNING
IF JOHN aicMAsrERs YESTERDAY,
While Searching for the Dody Of o Lady Sup.
posed TO be Also Drowncd-Mystsrioua
Disnppsarnncs Of sliss Robseca Stu.
ari, From Her Uucis's Residence.
North Wheeling was considerably ex-
Iited yesterday over two very sad occur
The first was the mysterious dis
oiMiss RebCcca Stuart, from
he residence Of her uncle, Mr.. Wm .stuart,
1t No. III. North Main street before day.
while laboriag, az supposed, under
mental alteration, and the second
was tho drowning Of Mr.. John McNlasters,
tho Island. yesterday afternoon, while
l,o was assia,ing 10 drag tho river Mt the
Water Works for tho body Of tho missing
woman, 1t being supposed that she had
walked into the river.
Yesterday morning Mr.. Stunrt rose be-
tween s mid O'Clock, as is his custom, to
build the fires before calling his sister and
niece, who were his housekecpers. On
gotng down stairs he was surprised to fad
the stair door unlocked and open, and MS
he went out the rear door to empty III
Aslles, bn wAs still moro surprised to find
that door also unlocked. On returning to
tho house TO waken the women he found
the door Of his niece's room open and she
was not inside. Calling his sister, u search
WIS made about the premises, but not n
sign OF Miss Stuait could be found. Her
night ~ciotfies,a heavy plaid shawl, u black
cashmere dress and overskirt, u pair Of
CATERS md Il black straw bonnet with
white rnching inside, were also missing
from her possessions.
SEARCHING o TILE roDY.
Now thoroughly alarmed, the neig}ibors
were notified Of the disappearance and
word sent to Mr.. McMasters and his
family, who are intimate friends Of the
Stuarts. They came over and Mr.. Nc
Masters joined in tho search. Inquiries
wern t%cleplioncd in all directions und out
the National road, but no tidinss were
learned. Aus,
After dinncri it was decided to drag the
river. 4 mark was iound"on the river
bank above the water works that looked
us though recently made by a woman's
shoe, but no other marks could be found.
Graphing hooks were secured ind Mr..
McMasters and David Arnett, living at
No. 705 North Main street, went out in one
skin and Mr.. Charlie Wclty and some
friends went out in another. The one
that McAlasters and Arnett were in was Il
water-loeg,d boat belonging to the Water
Works aud sat very low in the water.
Arnett was at the oars and McS1astcrs sut
in;thc stern handling tlia line. After
rowing UP and down past the Water
Works once or twice, AicAlusters madc
the line fast to ihesicrn, although warned
by Arnc,t not to | oso. They were going
downithe river when this happened, and
The warnin. Ind hardly been given when
they entered tho rifle" There is quite
II fail in the river there and the water runs
very iast.
M'MAsrEES DROWNED ;
Suddenly there was II jerk; the hooks
had caught on one Of the supply pipes or
the rocks mt the bottom. Before the men
could move or those OH the banks realize
what wa the matter, the swift running
water sacked the stern down anu sweep.
ing through the boat, carried the men out
and turned over the boat.
Arnett, in relating his experience, stated
that after the first plunge in the icy water
he did not feel the cold and started 10
swim to the shore. lie looked over his
shoulder and saw McMastcrs head out OF
the water. He heard him yell"Oh!' OIL"
several times, but supposed it was merely
from excitement and that McMas,ers
could swim. Had he heard him yell for
help he would have turned back to aid
him.
In the meantime the cries Of those on
the bank had called the attention Of those
in Wclty's skitf to the accident, and they
made all haste, against the strong wind
TINT Vas blowing, to reach the spot. They
reached McMasters Just in time to snatch
his hat us he sank for the last time. At
the same moment Arnett reached the
bank. This was shortly after . o'clock.
Mrs. McMnsters, who with her child was
Mt Mr.. Stuart's, WIS utterly Frustrated by
this sad affair. McMasters was employed
ut the .Ftnn mill rs a boss weighman and
was generally liked. He was 80 years old,
about 8 feet 0 inches in height, had black
hair, moustachc and small side whiskers,
wore black cashmere pants and black coat
and vest OF a figured pattern; had a silver
watch with gold chain and locket, cuffs
and buttons on.
MISS STUART.
Miss Stuart, it is supposed, had on the
clothes mentioned above, by which she
can be recognized If found wandering any
place, or il her body is found in the river.
She was Is years old, about five feet in
height, has slender form ind thin face,
dark brown ha;- and wore two plain gold
rings on her left hand. Since the death
OF her Aunt Mary, another sister Of Mr..
u few weeks since, she has been
very much depressed. She thought very
much of-tl,c deceased and was It iavoritc
with her. For the, last two or three
weeks she has been particularly peculiar.
She became very reticcnt; would say
nothing unless spoken to and then IN.
swcred with reluctance. During that
she las been in the habit CT spend
ing her evenings lying on asofa and not
retiring until after the others had. Satur-
day night her uncle spoke to her about
this; she made no reply, but getting UP
went out OF the room and 10 her own
Our Conuuerins Stogy.
"Growins% exclaimada Wheelingcisar
manufacturer, "well | should say SO. Our
stogy trade increases right along. Except
the far South, there Is hardly 4 State or
territory where the Whcelingstogics don't
o."