Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-08-08
SAD DROWNING ACCIDENT.
a wELB-KNOwN BRATTLBBoRO
GIRL
Ard Tive New Xork I.ads Lose their
Lives IN the west River.

Lives IN the West River,
1t is not often that any community is So
shocked and saddened as were the residents
of district No last Saturday afternoon bv
the drowning accident which cost the
lives Of Maggie McNeigh "a girl of ~.
daughter Of Matthew McNeigh. and two
Raymond boys from New York city Four
children of the Raymond family had been
spending several weeks with their friends
the McN eighs One Of these was a young
lady Of %, another a boy Of "a, and the
others. the two who we're drowned. Fred
eric, aged IL, aud Andrew. aged o. On
the afternoon Of Saturday the little Ray
mond boys wished 10 20 down to the river
30 fish and were allowed tu 90, accompanied
10y Maggie McNeigh her sister sarah. aged
u, and Alfred, aged q just how the ac
cident happened will never be known. but
its location was "A deep hole IN the West
river, familiar 10 residents in that vicinity.
just above the b. Estey place where
slippery, treacherous rocks shelve off sud
denly into water of a dangerous depth.
Frederick RAYMOND went into the river by
himself little way up the stream 10 battle.
lie evidently got beyond his depth and
Maggie went 10 his rescue for both were
| struggling IN the water when discovered
10y the other children aud marks were seen
on the muddy rocks where Maggie had
gradually slid down h. the deep water
Andrew Raymond rushed 20 their rescue,
breaking away from sarah McVeigh'
grasp, although she tried 20 hold him from
the needless sacrifice of his life When
the younger children saw that they could
furnish no help, and the bodies had sunk
10 the bottom Of the river, they ran TO give
the alarm first 10 Mr. knights. the near
est place 10 the accident. then 10 their
older sister at Mr. Proutys, and then went
on TO oscar Wares and TO tell their moth
err at their home on the bill beyond The
elder sister quickly informed her father
who was then at work at the schoolhouse.
ana he was carried to the scene Of the &C
cideut 10y "a passing neighbor Meantime
many people living uear had gathered at
the river the men procured "a boat and the
bodies we're raised and brought % tine
shore Every possible effort was made to
resuscitate them but they had been in the
wnter so long more than half an hour a.
cordinE TO the lowest estimate that help
was Impossible Efforts at restoration
were however, steadily continued until
tue arrival of Drs Webster aud Conland.
VINO came up at once ON a summons sent
as soon a. the accident was known The
lamentations of the friends as they arrived
ana tine exclamatlons of the new corners
as they first looked upon the sad scene will
not soon be- forgotten The mournful pro
cession carry ing the lifeless bodies wended
ITS way up the hill Just at evening to the
McN eigh home quite unlike the laughing.
happy group that left 1t early in the az
ternoou The sadness felt by the small
local community where the accident oc-
CURED was shared 10y the whole town. and
sympathy for the grief stricken family
was shown iu every possible WAY An az
propriHte service was held at the house
SUNDAY afternoon at , O'Clock conducted
Toy Rev. Mr. Collins when many sym
pathizlng FREUD. looked upon the three
bodies a. they lay side bv side The bodies
of the Raymond bows were taken To- New
FORK boy the morning train ou MONDAY
accompanied by the elder brother and sis
ter and 10y friend who went a. far d.
springfield where the stricken father met
them IL was indeed d sad returning
nome. The anxiety and suspense of tine
parents. brother aud sister at the home iu
New lurk hai been intense. they having
received only meagre telegraphic new.