Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-28
THE DROWNING CASUALTY
NO TRACES OF Mr.. JOHN VAN SICK
LENS BODY FOUND.
All Hope Abandoned that He Survives
A Large Area Near Colchester Point
Dragged without Success The
Search to be Prosecuted To day
The Remains of MIR. Wright
Taken to Boston.

Almost the sole topic of conversation on
the streets yesterday was the terrible ac-
cident by which the lives of two well
known business men, just in the prime of
life, had been lost, for there seemed to be
no hope that Mr.. John Van Sicklen was
living, although his body had not been
found. No clue as to the manner in
which the accident occurred could be OBJ
tained and the additional particulars OBJ
tanned are as follows:
The two men, Mr. A. l. Wright, senior
member of the fl IN of Wright 81 Sawyer,
commission merchants 30 ton and Mr..
John Van Sick len Of tine well known
wholesale Gr' cerv Eonse Of Van SiCN len d.
Spauldiug, lett this city about II O'clock
Tuesday for SAndGar bridge on ma ting
and fishing trip. They started il 7nall
row boat about l2 feet long, iuteudiu- to
row there aud back, returning "Wednesday
evening, rs each of the gentlemen lad
business engagements Thursday. THIS is
the last that is certainly known If them.
There are numerous theories as to now
the accident occurred, but nothing can III
all human probability he definitely jlscer
taiLed. The boat is small one that has
been III use Tor several years ami is quite
coats of paint it has received, and is not
considered by those acquainted with her
as being very seaworthy, and which would
very readily be capsized
One gentleman, who was well acQuaint-
ed with both of the unfortunate men, ad
vances the theory that Mr.. Van Sicklen
was rowing and was thoroughly warmed,
that in this condition the boat was cap
sized, perhaps in an endeavor to reach
some of the numerous articles which
they had with them: that Mr.. Van Sick
len became almost Immediately chilled
through and was unable to reach the
boat. He had on pair of hip rubber
boats which it would be utterly imposs-
BILE TO remove III the water, weighing
when dry from II TO l5 pounds and twice
that when wet. Mr.. Wright wore a pair
Of low rubber boats and was heavily
dressed.
The body of Mr.. Wright was found
about dark Wednesday evening on the
south shore of Colchester point, some lit
tie distance from the point and about one
and one half miles from the residence of
Mr.. b. Porter, the nearest house. by Mr..
W. l.. stone, who in company with Mr..
II. r. Conger had been out hunting. Mr..
stones attention was first attracted by
seeing the boat and upon going down to
the shore to investigate he found the body
some - feet or 20 feet from the boat, ly-
iuG on its face partially III the water, SO
that 1t was raised up and down by the
waves as they broke on the beach. Fish
ing lines were entangled about the body
and with the boat, which was done prob
ably by the action of the water, and
! not as has been surmsed by many,
fixed by Mr.. Van Sicklen, in an effort to
fasten Mr.. Wright to the boat and thus
save the life of one of them.
lhe boat was cast upon the shore stern
fiist, the fishing lines being entanged
about the stem of the boat, indicat-
lng that the body had been dragged along
by the action OF the wind upon the boat
aud thus cast ashore. Messss Conger
and Stone at once drove to this CITY with
the sad news, and word was Immediately
telephoned to Officer Wheeler of Winoos
kl, who In company with Seectman j. ".
Lavlgne drove out, reaching there about
the same time THAT Mtssrs. b. X. Sey-
mour and b. j. Derby and Mr.. c. f.
Brown, the undertaken, arrived.
When the remains We're found, sand
had been washed about the body and in
side Of the clothing, there being probably
1oO 1o0 pounds Upon the BODY We're We're
letters, about $40 IN money and
Mr.. Van Slcklen's watch, which a
by-stander claims he saw MIR. Van Sick
len hand to Mr. Wright Just as they were
leaving the wharf, finding tnat the chain
was interfering with mis- rowing. The
watch, which had stopped at 12:35, was
examined yesterday by a jeweller, who
found that it had run about IS hours af-
ter being wound up, indicating that the
accident occurred Tuesday within two
hours after leaving this city.
The body was ut once brought to this
city, reaching here at 1870 yesterday
IN )rningand was at once taken to the un-
dertaking rooms of Mr. Brown, where il
Was prepared Tor burial.
y Frenchman in the employ of Mr.. b
Porter says that abOut noon Tuesday h.
saw boat about half a mile from shore
Containing two men, and he thinks 1t tC
be the same boat that was washed ashore
But that, Of course will never be known
SEARCH FOR MIR VAN sICKLEN.
Diligent search was made yesterday fol
the body of Mr.. Van Sicklen, but without
avail. The steamer Marquita, which haC
been chartered the previous evening, lef
here about $3.50 in the morning with
party OF about 10 willing workers, bu
owing to the heavy seas and shallow
water was unable to approach the shore
Most of the men embarked in small boat,
ana assisted III the search, the steamer re
turning to Burlington. a large number
of men drove out from here, and MANY
Others went from the surrounding coun
ktry
A cable, 1900 feet long, heavily weighted
and having grapnels attached at intervals
of a foot or less, was hastily prepared
Under command of Mr. Is. Porter, who
boats each efficiently manned, was draw!
up IL line, and the work of dragging the
lake was commenced. Progress was quit'
slow, owing to the great weight OF thu
line, but the york was efficiently done, as
was shown by the small articles which
were brought to the surface All day
long the anxious search was prosecuted
covering large area south OF the point
but without avail Every foot of Thu
shore where it was thought tn.
body could have been washed
was carefully searched Dynamic
was exploded under the water
ldashing the spray 70 feet in the air. TIT
Mario iita returned to the scene IN the AT
ternoou and brought back those who hat
gone out in the morning.
MR.. WRIGHT's MIsGIVINGs.
II spe aking of the proposed trip to
riend, Mr. Wright expressed himself a