Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1890-07-24
JOHN STANCLIFFE DROWNED,
THE SAD FATE OF A SEVEN.
TEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY.
Drowned Saturday Night While
Bathing in the Cohansey,
Within EE1ltng Distance
OF Ills Home.


was drowned Saturday night in the
Cohansey.
1t was very sad accident, occurring
within hailing distance of the boys
home.
John Stancliffe was seventeen years
old, and has been in the family of Mr..
Robt. Bell, farmer, of Dutch Neck,
for seven years. He came from a
Philadelphia Home, and was to re-
main until he was of age. He was a
good, honest and Industrious boy, and
had won the affection of the entire
family in which he had lived. The
farm of Mr.. Bell is along the Cohansey
River, about two hundred yards from
the well-known fishing grounds, the
Rocks
Saturday evening about seven o'clock
John went down to the river accom-
panied by two small boys. He took
his clothes off and caught on behin1 j
the boat and told the boys to row up
the river little way. They did SO,
and he playfully disported himself in
the water, dragging on behind the
boat. While one of the party was cast
ing the stone anchor overheard, the
other fellow looked around, and heard
a gurgliug sound and turning around
only saw the ripping water At first
it was thought that Stancliff was only
playing in shallow water, but it soon
dawned upon the minds of the two
boys in the boat that their fellow play
mate was drowned. Their anxious
eyes peered in the water, but the
young man did not come up. Then
the alarm was soon given, and the
family were upon the spot, but in
a moment they realized that they could
do no service to the unfortunate lad.
The word was carried to Bridgeton,
and the lieighbors were getting
ting ready to recover the body. Hooks
and lines were prepared, and shortly
after five o'clock boats were out, and
the river was being dragged. 1t Seem
ed that there was not a farmer in
Dutch Neck that was not interested to
do something for the poor boy at the
bottom of the river. When PIONEER
reporter arrived at the place at half
past nine O'Clock, Sunday morning,
he found fully a hundred neighbors
around the banks, and all were trying
to do something toward recover
ing the body. Old and young men
were dragging the river, but they met
with no success. Just after eleven
O'Clock Amos Penn. George Daven-
port, Asa Mead and Chakley Hider
rowed from Bridgeton to the spot
where the yound man was drowned.
They Immediately put out two shad
nets, and dragged the river several
times, without success. They stopped
but few minutes to get dinner and
resumed work.
In the afternoon hooks were again
set out and the body was eagerly
sought after. Sometime after four
o'clock, the tug Laura B." with tow
came down the river, and the searchers
asked the captain if he would not put
on all the power he had. He responded
nobly, and it is thought the action OF
the boat Made the river give up its
dead, for Amos Penn's crew soon had
the body securely hooked under the
left arm by steelyards. The body was
drawn ashore and Amos Penn brought
tears to the eyes of the three hundred
people present when he said, Some
of you who have known the boy take
him out"
By strange coincidence, Superin-
tendent Talin. of the Home from which
John was taken, came to Dutch Neck
yesterday to look after his boy. He
had in contemplation the visit for more
year, and yesterday he came down.
He knew nothing of the sad accident
until he had travelled along the banks
of the Cohansey and reached the
point where the still, silent form was
brought up. Then he saw the face oil
John Stancliff and he was overcome.
He was surprised, that away off in
lower Jersey he should find one of his
boys in the silent death sleep, and sur.
rounding him fully three hundred an
xious neighbors wishing to get the
body from the river. He was out.
spoken in his praise for the people oi
that place, and declared that all de-
served credit. The people of Dutch
Neck were prompt to aid the rescurers
and several teams were driven to
Bridgeton, with those who had been
working all day.
To-day the grandfather of the young
man will be in Dutch Neck and ar.
rangements made for the funeral
The mother of Stancliff is living, but
is said to be dissolute woman.
Dutch Neck was overcome with sor
row all day yesterday.