Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-07-03
A Sad Drowning Case.

ofthc drowning of three persons, well known
to many Of our readers:
champion has had many sad accidents
lately but the drowning of Mr.. j. W. Della
plane, the wcllknown marble cutter, with
the two boys, is the saddcst event that has
happened for years in this vicinity
Mr.. Delapanc, accompanied by his little
boy and girl and his nephew, a boy of about
ten years of age, had been out in his canoe
sailing in the Hampton Roads and were on
their way in when they met the boat Of Dr.
Parramorc III which were Mr.J. B. Lake, ST.
ana the Doctor Just as they were coming
INTO the mouth of the creek the two boats
came in collision the boat in which Dr.
Parramorc and Mr.. Lake were in, striking
Mr.. Dclaplane's canoe in the centre but very
lightly. We examined the mark made by
the collision and found it very slight. Mr..
Dcaplanc had been in the creek, but as Dr.
Parramorc's boat nearcd the mouth OF the
creek, he iibed his sail and stood ont towards
the Roads. 1t was while on this tack his
canoe came in collision with the other. Tic
ran across their bow and when Dr. PARA
more saw a collision was inevitable he let
90 the sheet rope and broke the force of the
blow, his boat CHANGING off. 1t was shortly
after this the accident occurred. When MIR.
Delaplanc had gone short distance he jlbcd
his sail and as the sail came over the boom
hit the little boy, his son. seemingly on the
back Of his neck, the canoe leaning over as
the sail changed, throwing him over the side
into the water. The canoe was then some
| little distance ahead of the batteau. Mr. Lake
saw the child fall over and Immediately
Jumped over after it. He first came up to
the hat large straw one, but found the boy
was not there and on looking around discov-
cred him under the water going down. Mr..
Lake swan towards him and caught HIM by
the Jacket, throwing him over his back. He
then started towards the shore, against the
tide, which was gong out very strongly. 1t
was then, after the boy Was on Mr. Lake S
back, Mr.. Delaplane jumped into the water.
| His boat had gone ahead some hundred feet
but the tide swiftly carried him to where Mr..
Lake was swimming BY this time Mr. d..
w:s thoroughly exhausted and was on the
point of drowning, and caught hold Of Mr..
| Lakes leg carrying him down. Mr. Lake
tried to swim but as he came to the surface
Mr. D. had lost all consciousness and held on
to his lee with tight grip. AS they went
down again Mr.. Lake struck out towards the
shore and he felt the hand slipping down
towards his feet and then, rs it rot to his feet
he felt his slipper come of and the grip
| loosen. He made another effort and succeed
cd in reaching the surface again, still with
the boy on hs back. BY this time he was 50
! exhausted that he had almost lost conscious
ness but still had strength enough left I"
make him irrhly Nrik" out for the shore. lie
! had only rome n few yards when he went
down again and then he about gave up, ~
his strength was almost exhausted. As hr
went down the arms Of the boy, which were
claspcd around ms neck, passed over his head
and he again rose to the surface. Mr.. Lake
had still strength enough ltn to struggle II
little longer and he turned toward the shore
bu, few yards distant, and soon his feet
touched ground. After coming up the last
time he could rot g., his body up to lhc sur.
| face but padded along with his head almost
under the water. Mr.. Lake managed to keep
| up until he got IN water up to his waist and
then sank down and was carried on shore hy
Il gentleman stopping at Mr.. Cox's. The
other boy, Carl Dclaplanr the son of Mr..
Dclpancs brother, jumped over after Mr.
Dchplanc either from fright or in hopes Of
helping his uncle in saving the little boy.
He went right down and was not seen again
until Wednesday morning.
SEARCHING FOR THE BODIES.
In less than an hour after the accident Il
number of young men were out trying to
recover the bodies. Diving was first rcsor'cd
to. Wythc Dobbins, of the .Nonttor. Adrance.
went down number of times but met with
no success. A party next started ont with
oyster tongs, but the bodies could not be
located, and they gave it up. Among those
out were Messrs. Bob White, Frank White,
Dr. Parramore Mr.. Cox the Monttor. Adunce
reporter and others. Another party went
out about l1.3O o'clock, but met with no
success.
In the morning new plans were discussed
and a plan suggested by DR.. Seldom was
taken up by John Lake, Jr. 1t was a long
iron bar, onc-half inch IN thickness, and ten
feet long. On this was tied large fish hooks,
three together, with the pronys projecting in
three different directions. the string being
left long enough to drag along the bottom
after the rod. DR.. Parramorc, John Lake,
Rayncr Lewis and our reporter went out ON
and after dragging about two hours brought
up the body of the little boy, Mr.. J. W. Del
aplanc's son, the first to 90 overheard. The
body was very little marked, the constant
dragging having probably kept the crabs
from the body. Our reporter turned the
body over to Mr.. Phillips, the coroner, who
took it to Mr.. Dclepancs late home, and
then resumed dragging. The men had all
been dragging several hundred feet from
where the body was found. further out in the
channel, but they now came in and the water
IN this vicinity was dragged over and over
again, but without success. At noon the
searching parties went in to rest and when
the search was resumed there were four Of
the iron bars in the water, the other scarchcrs
following our plan. About one o'clock the