The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-06-11
EIGHT DROWNED.
Fate of a Pleasure Party Oh
Watuppa Lake, Mass.
AN 0ver-Crowded Boat Causes
; the Tragedy:

A dispatch from Fall River Mass, says:
Eight lives were lost in Watupra Lake at
about o'clock in the afternoon. A boat
was overturned twenty feet from the shore,
and of the twelve occupants only four were
saved Friends Of those who perishei were
within hearing of the cries for help, but
assistance was not available before they
were drowned.
The day was bright. and among the thou
sands who went for stroll ia the country
were Samuel WhittleS and his wife, who took
their three children. aged from eight to
twelve years: John Buckley, his wife and
their two children, aud Walter Turner. a
shorthand instructor iii Holiness CONNER
cial College, with his boy. eight years old.
The twelfth member of the party was a
boarder in Whittles's family named George
Hamer. who acted as rescuer.
They walked briskly across the Narrows
and stroled along the east shore of the lake
unmindfnl Of the distance until the children
began 10 complain Of fatigue. They
were too tired to walk home. and it
was concluded to row across the
lake. 4 fat-boltomed skif was obtained
from farmer. The party being large, it
row, and it was arranged with the owner of
theskiff that it should be left OH the opposite
shore. The skif was only ten feet long. 1t
was made to hold eight persons.
The SIX adults and six children crowded
into it. The weight sank the boat so low
that the water came up to the gunwales.
When it had neared the landing at the water
works breeze rrrfflsd the surface of the
pond. Little waves rose and leaped over the
sides of the boat. One of the children
screamed and jumped from one side of the
skiff to the other The other children im-
mediately did so, too, and the boat was cap
sized.
l Turner and Hamer could swim. and they
Auuickly reached tine shore. Turner is very
delicate. and at once fell in dead faint.
Hamer again spraug into the water. and
went to the rescue OF his friends, who were
clinging 10 the boat. He srasped one of the
Whites children and returned to land. Then
he made another trip and saved John Buck
ley. The other people could not long hold
to the boat.
The screams Of the women and children
reached the ears of men in the pumping
station hut before they could unite their
boat and get into it the last of the victims had
sunk out OF sight.
Graphing parties were formed and bodies
were secured. Police emergency officers and
physicians made vigorous but vain efforts to
resuscitate those who were thus brought
CANlSCIhShS LII
the crowd that gathered were many intimate
friends Of the BuckleyS and WhittleS, and as
one after another the bodies were placed i'll n
row and life was pronounced extinct, the
friends wept. Others III the crowd were
forced to tears by the spectacle.
Little Edwin Whites, who had been saved
by Hamer, had lost his father, mother and
two brothers Mr. Buckley could not believe
his wife was dead, and for two hours tried to
restore her to life. Their two little children
lay lifelesS beside her.
Turner. whose weak system had sustained
a severe shock. was taken to the hospital
mourning for his little son, whose body had
not been secured, although graphing par
ties continued to search for it by the light
Of the mool
The drowned are:
Mrs. Levina Buckley, aged thirty-fve;
Fred'k Buckley, aged three: Willie Buckley,
aged eight; Willie Turner, aged nine:
Samuel Whittles, aged fifty. Mrs. Wkittles,
aged fortY-fve: Henry Whittlei, aged ten;
Samuel Whittles. Jr., aged twelve.
Mr.. Whittles has been prominent among
the English citizens and was generally re-
spected and liked. For years he had been
trusted cmploye Of Cobb, Bates & Yerxa.
He was President of the Humboldt Scientific
Society and was to have addressed it that
evening.
Mrs. Whittles's father met his death by an
accident short time ago.