The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-31
GRIEF
A Sufferer From the johns
town Flood Loses His
Son By Drowning.


Willie Savage. nine years old, OF No. 81
Sussex street, while sitting on the string
piece at the Morris street dock with sew
eral companions, waiting for the excnr-
sion of theiJames Mailley Association to
come up to the dock last night, fell over
board, and before any of his companions
could offer him any assistance he SANG 10
the bottom.
The accident brings to mind the hor-
rors of the Johnstown flood four years
ago. At that time John Savage, his wife,
Tie boy who was just drowned, and two
nieces of tine family lived In neat little
cottage about one mile from Johnstown.
Theirs was happy home. On the day or
the fatal flood the cottage Of the family
was swept away with the rest. Mr..
Savage remained at the side Of his wife
and the other female members Of the
family until all escape was cut off. Mrs.
Savage and the other women were
drowned. The father and son, however.
managed to get on a floating raft. AId
after many miraculous escapes managed
to land further down the river
Mr. Savage and his son Willie, who
was then five years old received a small
sum of the big amount raised throughout
the country for the flood suffers.
TWO BRAVE WANDERERS.
With his pretty cottage destroyed
and his beloved wife and neices
dead, Mr.. Savage with his young
world. The father would not remain
anywhere nears sJohnstown. where the
memory of the ones he loved so
well seemed to forever haunt him.
He moved from one place to another
trying to forget the past and finally
about two years ago he located IN this
city. He lived at No. 81 Sussex street.
Here the neighbors soon learned
his past history and they
sympathized with him. Little
While was looked up to with a great
deal of love by his younger companions
when they learned that he was ore of the
few who had escaped death in the ter
rible flood. Although loath to speak OF
that terrible event, Mr.. Savage was often
induced to recite the horrors OF the
flood.
Ever since the food Mr.. Savage has had
a tarrible dread OF the water. de often
declared that he feared he or his son
would meet death by drowning. Last
night little Willie asked his fathers per-
mission to go out
"Where are you going, Willier the
father asked.
II am going down to see the excursion
of the Mailly Association come in" the
boy replied.
The father was loath to let the boy go
near the river. The lad begged so hard,
however. and said that several others
were going with him that the father gave
his consent after advising him not TO go
near the end of the Dier.
WILLIE DROWNED.
Willie did just what his father told him
not to do and sat on the string piece al
the end. When some one shouted that
the excursion was coming m fhe
river. Willie s~@;~ss -
his balance ndBsil l,,r, n
When Mrsage s s4ssas sslnldas Siess ss.
fate of his3boy, he was almost frantic
He went % tho dock. and with several
men who sympathized with him,
began to hunt for the body
The body was brought to the
surface by John Cunniff and
those who were present and witnessed
the grief of the father when the body was
laid on the pier will not forget it for
awhile. The body was brought home by
the grief-stricken father. and the County
Physician was notified.