The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-04-27
DROWNED IN ICY WATERS.
Ar Instructor and Eight Boys
Perish in Boston HarbOr.
The Boat Capsized and One by
One They Dropped Off.

An Instructor and ten boys connected with
Che Boston Farm School at Thompson's ISL
and we're capsized IN sail boat in Boston
Qdass.) Harbor few evenings ago, and
sight of the boys drowned.
The victims were A. F. Nordberg, instruc-
tor. aged about forty; Frank F. Hitchcock,
aged nineteen; Homer F. Thatcher, seven
teen: George F. Ellis, six
tssn: Thomas Phillips. sixteen; William W.
Currap, seventeen; Charles 81. Graves seven
tean; barry E. Loud, sixteen; Adelbert Fl.
Packard, sixteen. The rescued boys were:
Owe W. Clements, seventeen; Charles A.
Limb, sixteen.
The instructor had been to the city during
ths day to attend church. and the ten boys
constituting regular crew OF the school,
Ieft the island at $50 to sail to City Point to
convey the instructor to the island.
The trip is considered perfectly safe under
ordinary circumstances, having been made
for years, even during the winter months,
without accident.
As precaution, however, in view Of the
breeze, the crew took q single sail boat in.
stead of a double sail craft, in which the trip
y often made.
The trip to the Point was made without
accident, and soon after o'clock the boat
started on the return trip.
At point supposed to be between Spec
tacle and Thompson's islands the boat was
struck by squall and Immediately capsized.
The e,even occupants were thrown into
ths ice cold water, but being accustomed to
strict discipline and the exercise Of heroism
In the school, they all secured positions
where they could cling to the overturned
craft, and then began long wait for res
eue, which TO most OF them was never to
come.
According to the statements of the two
survivors they encouraged each other by
words of cheer, occasionally shouting in
the hope that they might be heard by some
ono on shore. At one time tug was seen
IN the distance, and they shouted with all
THAR remaining strength, but could not
sttrGcS attention.
Tia night was cold and the shores and
wharves were abandoned. When the time
for The boat to return to the island had
pesSld, the Superintendent Of the school,
Charles a. Bradley, went to the beach to
scan the waters toward City Point to see if
his boys were approaching. There was a
fire on a neighboring island, and he got in
tAs range Of the freight in the hope that 1t
would aid his vision. but he saw nothing.
The survivors say that they saw his form
Yatrolling the beach and felt sure that rescue
would come, but it did not. Finally the
chill of the water and the e1ertion necessary
10 keep their heads above the surface over
came the unfortunates, and one by one they
we're compelled to release their hold.
The instructor was the first to go. Each
offered prayer or a word Of farewell to
the others as he gave up his hold on life.
Some of them endured the unequal contest
for nearly four hours, and 1t was quite four
hours, or about II o'clock, when the boat
with the two survivors still clingihg to it,
but exhausted, drifted ashore. They were
immediately cared for, and rapidly recov-
cred from the effects OF their exposure.
Superintendent Bradley notified the police,
xndertakers and the officers of the Boston
Farm School of the disaster and engaged
irver to search for the bodies Of the lost.
This is the only drowning accident that has
happened to the school since 1s42.
The Boston Asylum and Farm School for
Indigent Boys is private institution, sup
ported by wealthy citizens. Its funds are
all appropriated Tor relieving, iustructing
and employing INDECENT boys. Ths boys re.
eeive good common-school education, and
arc instructed in moral and religious duties.
The boys were all good swimmers and MIR.
Nordberg was an expert. The icy tempera-
ture Of the water is supposed to have chilled
them 80 that they were unable to make any
sRorrc for th cir own Safefv