The Penn's Grove record., 1888-08-11
TERRIBLE
Five PennsviIIe Ladies' Lost
Their Lives.

Their Lives.
Wednesday had no night for sleep in
Pennsville. That town had a pail rest
ing upon it darker than the black storm
clouds which brought the terrifying
catastrophe which caused sorrow in
many homes.
On Wednesday a party consisting Of
Elijah Wheaton and wife, Jonathan L.
Turner and wife, Mrs. Samuel Wheat
on, and her daughter Dora, aged about
six years. Mrs. Tllos. FiDnegan and
Clayton Batten. all of P~ennsyille, came
to Penns Grove ON Mr.. Wheaton's sloop
to spend the day in the Grove where
the Church Landing Sunday School
was holding their annual picnic.
They had an enjoyable time and star
ted home early in the evening. At six
O'Clock there we're appearances Of a
gust coming and it increas ed to u fury
about 7.15 O'Clock. Mr.. Turner adj
vised Capt. Wheaton that he had bet
ter come to-" and Ike in sail before
the Squall struck them as all other boats
along the river were doing, but he be-
ing III old sailor who had weathered
many a gale, and as they were within II
mile of home and could not much more
than make it before the tide would be-
gin to flow, and having three reefs in
his sail as extra %precaution, which he
would not have taken if the ladies had
not been aboard, thought he could see
them safely home.
When off the mouth of Penns Neck
Canal Il squall struck them hut the
slo0p riglited again. Soon another
gust struck them off Church Landing,
broke the topmast and put the sloop on
her beams end. Capt. Wheaton was
thrown from the wheel into the water
badly hurt. Clayton Balten rescued
him and got him in the skiff which WAS
towed behind. Mr.. Turner tried to
rescue the five ladies who were in the
cabin. The wind was blowing a gale,
the sea running high, and 1t was with
difficulty that he held on to "A v him
self. Mr.. Batten had all he could do
to manage the skiff, Mr.. Wheaton nOt
being able TO do anything. The ladies
had not been in the cabin five minutes.
Mr.. Turner was in the cabin when the
sloop went over and at once tried to
get The ladies out. He got hold OF Mrs.
Fmnegan's arm and raised her up but
the Others held her back. MI. Turner
had TO look to his OWN safety AS the
water rushed in aud the companion
way sank under water quicker than it
takes time to tell it.
In the meantime Il tug which
was near and saw the capsizing arriv-
ed and picked up the skiff with the
men in it which had broken loose and
drifted from the sloop.
Mr.. Turner told the captain to get
the sloop ashore, 10 matter what the
cost ST the ladies could be rescued.
There being o other places line was
Tied to the railing { the sloop. They
did not go far before the railing gave
way.
The tug was unable to reach the slOop
again in the wind, rain and darkness
which had set in intensely. As the
sloup fioated away in the darkness the
men heard :le cries CT their loved ones
imprisoned in the cabin sOOn to meet ii
watery grave.
The tug towed the men in the skiff
to Pennsville and o o the town was
almost distracted as the news of the
terrifying accident spread. Several
parties got III skiffs and searched the
river all night for the sloOp with its
victims.
Thursday morning The sloop Flora b.,
which was her name, was found in the
Delaware channel below New Castle.
n hole was cut in the cabin and the
four dead women and girl were found
in the upper berth above the water all
hold of hands.
Some think they may have kept above
water and suffocated as the sloop did
not sink. The bodies and the sloop
were taken over to Pennsville by the
tug James.
The drowned were:
Auna Maria Wheaton, aged 50 years,
the wife of Captain Wheaton.
Sadie Wheaton, aged 81 years, the wife
of Captain Wheaton's son.
Dora Wheaton, aged 7 years, the only
daughter of Sadie Wheaton.
Rebecca F~innegan, aged 20 years, wife
of Thomas Finhegan, the village
barber, and sister of Sadie Whea-
ton.
Amy Turner, aged AZ years, wife of
Jonathan II. rurner, one of the
richest men in Pennsville and u
prominent man in the place.
Mrs. Finnegan and young Mrs.
Wheaton were both daughters of Rich.
ard d. and Ahbie Batten. Clayton
Batten wa their brother.
Mrs. Elijah Wheaton, Mrs. Samuel
Wheaton, her daughter Dora and Mrs.
Finnegan will be hurried this
Saturday morning. Services at
Elijah Wheaton's house, in Penns
Vile, AT 10 O'Clock A. NJ. Mrs. Elijah
Wheaton will be buried first at the NJ.
+. Cemetery and Mrs. Samuel Whea-
ton and her daughter at st. George
cemetery afterwards.
Mrs. Turner's funeral will be- held ,
sunday afternoon, services II the resi-
dence of her husband belo y Pennsville, |
by Rev. Mr.. Perkins at 100 O'Clock.
Interment at St, Georges EPISCOPAL