Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-08-15
A WOMAN CAUSED IT.
She Was "FooIing" and
the Boat Capsized.
FOUR LIVES WERE LOST.
One of the Party Had Been at Work
in This City.

A sad drowning accident happened yes
terday at Warren by tho capsizing OF a
boat containing nine people. -Four Of the
nine were drowned and the result was due
to the carelessness of one OF the women
of the party who persisted In leaning over
tho boat after being warned against do
ing 30.
The persons drowned wero David MUIR
ray, his wife, Abbey Murray, thoir daugh-
ter Mary, 10 years old, and Eliza e., the
9-months-old daughter OF Allen and Mary
Forbes.
About 10 o'clock yesterday the above
il-fated four, in company with Allen
Forbes and his wife, Mary, and a three
year-old child, together with John Nc
Grath and John Martin, started for But
ler's woods across the river to enjoy a
clambake.
Although the boat was too heavily
loaded they arrived thcre In safety.
The bake was had and the boat was
again entered by tho party and headed for
home. Had they steered directly for
home they would have probably been all
right but instead they propelled 1t about
the river.
Mrs. Murray sat In the rear of tho boat
with hammock over her shoulders like
shawl, and commenced to scoop up the
water with her hand and throw 1t over
the other occupants of the boat. Mrs.
Forbes demonstrated without effect.
As she reached over again with a laugh
to scoop up more water the boat gave a
sudden lurch. She tried to recover herself,
but too late and In second the ent ire party
were struggling in tho water. The ham,
mock which Mrs. Murray had around her
became entangied about her and she sank
almost Immediately.
Mrs. Forbes seized her children but was
unable to save both, and the baby was lost
in the struggle and disappeared at once.
Murray was able to swim, but seemed
helpless, and his daughter, who relied on
him for help, sank with him while reach
ing for assistance.
John Martin relieved Mrs. Forbes of
her remaining child and then clung to
the gunwale OF the boat. Her husband
then came to her assistance.
McGrath, being good swimmer, struck
out for the shore at point where he saw
a boat, but when he reached 1t 1t had no
oars.
He pluckily entered the water again,
however, and succeeded In pushing 1t to
his unfortunate companions and res
cued them. In a short time large crowd
had collected and when the five survivors
reached the shore they were Immediately
cared for. Allen Forbes was greatly over
come by his struggles and with his wife
and son were taken to their homes.
McGrath and Martin did not seem to be
affected and Immediately joined a party
to search for tho bodies Of those who had
been lost.
The bodies OF David Murray and his
wife and daughter were found in close
proximity to where the accident occurred.
The body OF the baby was not found and
another effort was made to recover it to-
day.
Mr.. Forbes has been employed in this
city for the past week but went back 10
Warren Saturday night to spend Sunday
with his family.
David Murray was i5 years of age and at
one timo was engaged in the Warren mills
and his wife was working there and In a
large measure supported the family.
There was another daughter OF the Muir
ray family, IA years of age, who stayed
away from the bake to pick berries. She
was almost frantic with grief when she
heard OF tho disaster.