Morning journal and courier., 1886-06-07
SAD DROwN1NG AoC1DENT,
Miss Lizzie Stevens Drowned OF Mer-
wins Point Saturday-The Body Not
Vet Recovered

SAD DkNO w N ING ACC4DENT.
Miss Lizzie stevens Drowned OF mer-
wins Point Saturday-The Body Not
Yet Recovered.
Early Saturday afternoon sad accident
occurred off Merwin's Point, which resulted
in the drowning of Miss Lizzie Stevens, the
fourteen year old daughter of Mrs. Jane
Stevens of los Wooster street. Captain Jo-
seph D. Billiard of the schooner Henrietta,
Saturday, according to annual custom, invit-
sail on the Sound, which they accepted, and
when the schooner left Canal dock at 10
O'Clock Saturday morning the party was made
up as follows:
Miss Lizzie Stevens, Jos Wooster street; Miss Pau
clan, IS wooster street; Miss Lulu Gorham, grand
daughter Of Dr. Henry BTown 50 Chestnu a5 street;
Munson 479 Chapel street; Miss Nsttie Chatfeld, of
Wooster street between Chestnut iv and n
Doolittle, pupil Of Eaton school; Miss Jennie
Of the girl who WAS drGs1s s
braith, ~ wooster street and Fl Hamilton street.
Annie and Minnie Burt Chapel street and grand
daughters of Captain Billiard Miss Susie Forbes of
College street, Miss Aggie Hall of Chestnut street,
Mrs. Lucy Gabraith of Hamilton street; W. c. Kay
and wife, 15s Bradley street; Miss Lila E. Crane,
Belle e4e Of fSS state Street. Ss
Brocksieper 1852 Chapel street; Mrs. John /. Burt
Misses Jennie and Nellie Henry, Audubon street;
Mrs Smell 482 Chapel street; Miss Jennie Stevens,
Of dead RsPg srses Mat M
Charles Clarke at Hamilton and Coils streets;
of Ghae fES
NeT hapei sree ana
lad named Hotchkiss and Mr.. Frank Smith, Az
Chapel street.
Everything went we'll until the party were
Il
Ter asked permission to occupy seat in the
yawl boat, which was suspended from the
davits at the stern of the schooner. Captain
Billiard allowed Miss Roessler to sit in the
boat, but she had not been there long before
she was Joined by Mr.. Frank Smith, Miss
Lizzie Stevens and Miss Lulu Gorham. The
schooner was by this time about three miles
off Merwin's Point, and everything was going
along smoothly when suddenly one of the
ropes by which the yawl was supported
snapped in twain and went down, hurting
tn four occupants into the water. Captain
Billiard was at the time forward on the main
deck, but when he heard the piercing cries
for help of those who saw the accident,
he ran to the stern and the yawl that
was swinging in the air held up by the
ropes at one end was Immediately low
cred into the water. Into it jumped
First Mate John and he pulled for the near
est person, Miss Gorham, who was going
her arm She was pulled into the yawl and
the mate looked around for the others.
1 Miss Roessler, who was having her head
held above water by Mr.. Smith was the next
one picked up. Mr.. Smith then climbed
into second yawl which had been sent out
from the schooner, but Miss Stevens was
nowhere to be found, and it is thought her
head struck the side of the yawl boat, and
when she struck the water she at once sank
to the bottom. Her cloak and hat were
found floating about some time later and
were recovered. Men in the two yawls con-
tinued to hang around the vicinity for sew
eral moments, but there was no sight to be
had of the little girl. Finally the search
was abandoned and the Prov of
the vessel turned toward New HAY
en-. 1t was a sorrowful crowd,
soaked garments of the drowned favorite in
tensifed the grief of the party. They
Stevens was notified of the sad accident
which had befallen her daughter. The moth
er took the matter very hard, and Saturday
evening was walking up and down the back
yard, calling for her daughter in the most
pitiful manner. Yesterday she was much
FRUSTRATED.
Early yesterday morning under the COM
mand of Commodore Billiard, son of Captain
Billiard, the steam yacht Lucy and the
yachts Endeavor, Vixen, Stranger and
Zephyr OF the New Haven acht club. each
carrying about six men, sailed to Merwin's
Point to search for the body of Miss
Stevens. All day was spent in cruising
around where it was thought the body went
down with graphing irons, and sew
eral guns were fired over the water,
but to no effect and at Z
o'clock last evening the yachts returned to
notify the anxious watchers that nothing
had been seen of the body. Said a member
of the club and one of the party to the
search when seen last evening: eve searched
near the place where the body is supposed to
have gone down with graphing irons and
fred guns, but with no effect. The water I
should say was at that place about nine faith
oms deep and the body may not be recovered
for five or six days. The commodore will
select two yachts which will take up the
search again in the morning and drag for the
body Mr.. Smith is the gentleman
who at the last big fire at the rubber shop
became shut in by the fire and jumped from
third story window to the sidewalk, break
ing both legs and one arm. He is an ex-
member Of the New Haven police force. The
Miss Roessler mentioned is a daughter of
Paul Roessler, the optician of this city, and
has twice crossed the ocean. The deceased
girl, Miss Stevens, was daughter of the late
Stiles Stevens, who was a well known and
pro miuent citizen and conducted the iron
railing business on Temple street.