Democratic messenger., 1892-07-23
Four Brothers Drowned in the
ManOkin River, Near Prin-
cess Anne.

cess Anne.
One of the most distressing drowning
accidents that ever occurred in this coun.
" took place IN the Manokin river, about
one mile and a half from Princess An ne
Vl Saturday last between five and six
o'%ocJp m, when fnur of Mr. and Mrs
CriSNpher c. Balls sons, who were IN
hathfA. lost their lives. Mr. Ball resides
on te lsApc ID. Jones farm, located about
oncImilc vast Of this place.
On Saturday afternoon after the boys
Ind gotten through with the ir work they
went To The back part of the farm To bring
up the horses. but before doing SO they
concluded TO 20 III bathing The Mano-
Kin river bounds the south side Of the
farm. Five of the brothers and colored
hoy went in. They had not been in long
before one of the Ball boys got beyond
his depth and went down and then broth
CT alter brother went To the one in dis
view. Neither of them could swim. Tie
/ fifth brother would have also gone To the
rescue had he not been prevented from
doing 50 by the little colored boy. George,
the surviving brother, who is about -
years OF age, dressed and ran To the house,
which is about a mile distant, and throw
4 ing his arms around his mothers neck
cried ont, "Oh, mother the boys are all
drowned - The agony Of that mother
cannot be portrayed by pen.
News was sent 10 this town for help 10
find the bodies, and large number OF
persons went 10 the scene of the accident
and the work of searching for the bodies
commenced about 6.30 O'Clock
Among those that went diving for the
boys. we name John Woodland Crisfcld,
+. Orrick Smith, John Gardener, James
f. Dougherty and George Collins. They
had been searching the bottom of the riv-
er for nearly an hour. without success
and were about to give it up until The
tide went down, when Mr.. Cristicld
thought he would dive one more time
which he did and his hand fell upon one
Of the boys and he WAS brought to the
surface. This was between 130 aud 500
o'clock. Two others were found in quick
succession, 10y the same gentleman, with.
in circle of ten feet of each other. The
three little fellows were laid on tn,
ground side by side, while search was
continued for the fourth. The shades oi
evening were now deepening and such d
sight was never witnessed within the
limits of this county.
Mr.. Ball remained on the scene Will,
the search WAS goin on. and his grief was
past description; hut kind friends thought
il was best To take his heart-brokcn wifi,
To her home, aud it was done.
After finding the third boy tho diver'
were about exhausted and had to com,
for pair Of oyster tongs. hut without
success Between 1890 and | | 90 Al NJ, h
Messrs. John W Crsfeld, .Ir, and Jas
f. Dougherty went into the river agnil
and the fourth hoy was found. The hon
or of finding all -four of the bodies ial!'
upon Mr.. Crisficld nevertheless due
praise is rendered all who assisted in tn,
search. Three Of the boys had been sen
home. and the wagon had scarcely reach
ed the house with them before the fnurtl
one was following after. Below will b.
found the names and aud ages of the 1t
tie fellows:
William would have been l6 out III,
12th of September next; Lewis woul,
have been II in September; Joshua Tho
mas was Il the 3lst of last December
and John was 10 last March All tn
children were very helpful to their par
ents. Five children were left to the be
reaved parents-two boys and three girls
Three of the oldest children were drown
ed. The kind people of Princess Ann
and vicinity showed their sympathy fo
tins bereaved family by doing everything
in their power to tighten their burden
The accident shocked the whole commu
anu lhltN pau tfti ~ htAb
moisture 10 the eye of many strong man
and many mothers heart ached will
sympathy for the doubly falhc
and mother
The funeral took place at the Presby
tcrian Church of this town on Monda
afternoon, and the spectacle Of four col
fins in that church at one time, and th
collins filled by members of one family
was never before witnessed here. Th
church Was packed with sympathizin
friends and acquaintances The fou
brothers were buried in one grave IN tn
said church yard They were regular al
tendents at the Presbyterian Sunda
school, end highly esteemed and loved b
both teachers and superintendent. Nj
and Mrs. Ball are natives Of Wicomic
county. and moved to their present hom
about three years ago. DIR. TwIlley, q
Chestertown, is the father of Mrs. Ball
Somerset Hcrdld
IRONSHIRE.