Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-10
An Exciting Experience.

IN WHICH TWO YOUNG MEN OF STAUN-
TON WE'RE PROMINENT.
The Salem (Roanoke) Times-Register CON
tains an exciting account of the narrow eS-
cape of two young ladies from drowning,
not far from there. Two Of the gentlemen
named in the account are from Stanton
Mr.. E. B. Gait, brother of Mr.. Reeves Gait
of this city, and Mr.. r. E. McAleer, son
of our venerable and esteemed citizen of
the county, Michael McAleer, Esq. We
give the account which is quite thrilling:
Last Monday morning, a large party Of
young ladies and gentlemen of this place star
ted out to spend the day in fishing and other
amusements in the vicinity of Jacks Cave on
Roanoke river, about three miles from town.
Everything passed off pleasantly until about
four O'Clock, when the whole community was
thrown into wild excitement and deep grief
by the report that Miss Emma Boon, daugl-
ter of Z. Boon, Esq, and Miss Eta DENT
sister of the editor of this paper, had been
drowned while attempting to cross the river
in buggy. In few moments thereport had
reached nearly every ear in the town, and
such is the esteem in which both the young
ladies are held that few announcements could
have created more universal sadness. So
great was the excitement that large and anX-
ious crowds of men. women and children has
tened in all directions toward the river, and
it was some time before the first terrible report
received contradiction in the announcement
that the young ladies had been rescued, and
were alive and safe. The particulars of the
accident which came so near resulting in the
loss of two bright young lives, may be briefly
stated as follows A portion of the party were
at the cave on the hill, and the remainder
were on the banks of the river. The water at
this point was very low, and MI. E. 3. Gait
had driven across in his buggy only a few
moments before to where the young ladies
were. When the time arrived to start for
home he suggested to the young ladies on the
bank that they drive across in his buggy,
thereby saving themselves a long walk over
the hill. Misses Boon and DENT accordingly
got into the vehicle, Miss Boon driving, and
started across the stream, but instead of going
in the direction pointed out, they had not pro
ceeded far when the buggy was seen to sud-
denly turn over and disappear, while the oc-
cupants were thrown out into water after
wards ascertained to be about eighteen feet
uCGp anu klUhH W ljd1UlCo IdlllllldI Will lLo
stream as a very deep and dangerous hole. 1t
was all so sudden, and the position of the
young ladies so perilous, that for moment
the men on the bank and on the hill were al
most paralyzed with fright while the young
lady witnesses filled the air with agonizing
Shrieks. Miss Boon was seen to rise, and as
she did so, grasped the horse by the neck and
held firmly to him, though tossed to and fro,
frequently being carried under the water.
Miss Denit however, went to the bottom and
never came to the surface until her hrother
Mr.. Joseph DENT, who was some distance off,
realizing the situation, leaped from the cliff,
a distance Of several feet, into the water, and
swimming to where he believed his sister was,
dived and brought her up. He was just in the
nick of time. A few moments more and she
must have died.
Miss Boon's position at this time was eX-
tremely perilOuS. No one was near who could
swim. The current was swift. The horse to
which she clung and her only safety, was fast
drowning. Mr.. NJ p. Frantz, who was some
distance off ran to the river, and leaping in
without removing hat OF clothes, swan to-
wards Miss Boon. He was compelled to turn
back before he reached her, being exhausted
by his long run and weighted down by his
clothing. MI. Gait, who could not swim,
dashed in to help Miss Emma, but he soon
sank. The swift current, friendly to him,
carried him down to a shallow place whence
he reached the shore. Messrs. Emory Frantz,
G. B. Frantz, John and Joseph Bowles, E. R.
Moore and L. n. Bunch who were fishing
near by, attracted by the screams came
to the place and uniting with Messrs
Frantz and Gait formed chain Of hands from
the shore towards the exhausted lady, when
Mr.. R. E. McAleer, of Roanoke City, having
taken off his outer clothing, swan to Mis-:
Emma and brought her within reach of tht
friendly hands outstretched towards her.
The two nearly drowned, and by this tim'
thoroughly dazed young ladies, were taken tt
the houses in the INTERCHANGEABLE Denit t.
Misses Jacks and Miss Boon to MI. J. ?
HoutZ s-where kind hands and hearts CAV
them needed attention When all the circum
stances are considered, the escape of thes
young ladies from death is almost miraculous
The horse, valuable animal belonging t,
Mr.. E. B. Gait, was drowned, but the bugg,
was recovered the next day. Thus by TIN
goodness of God these two lives, so nearl,
lost, were saved to their families, the church
and the community.