Middletown transcript., 1894-06-30
ELMER E. CROFT.
Sad Drowning and It's Sequel-The
BuriaI at Odessa.

Durlal at OueSSd.
About six years ago Elmer E. Croft lei
Odessa to go to Washington. d. c., to max
that city his home. During these years a
he grew to manhood. he always took dee
interest in his old home and friends.
This town and community were shocked
last week to learn of his death while bath
ing at Coal Landing in Aqua Creek, I
branch of the Potomac river. For the
past month he had been employed as cool
on the tug Eva Belle Cain, of Alexandria
Va, Cap. Joshua Ellis.
On Thursday, the 10Th instant. be called
the captain and crew to dinner, saying that
he would take swim while they ate. Tn
dressing he jumped into the water but
never rose. It is supposed lie struck a
piece Of wreck, which was sunk there
| abouts. The captain and crew searched for
| the body but could not find it. On Thurs
day, the 2lst instant it made its appearance,
and an inquest was held by j. B. Burton, q
Justice of the Peace, of Stafford County,
Va i, and verdict was rendered of acciden-
tai drowning. By order of the captain Of
the Tug the body was buried when found.
So that after the inquest the interment took
place on hillside beneath locust tree,
not far from the scene of the drowning.
Harry B. Rhodes, former resident of
Odessa, but now living in Washington, saw
an account in the Morning Post of the
drowning of an Edward" Croft, and on
making inquiries found it to be his old
friend and schoolmate. Elmer E. Croft.
He Immediately wrote to the father, l.
Frank Croft, giving him such informrtion
as he then hnd.
He also began to make inquiries about
him in Washington, and finding that he
was member of Union Lodge, No. %, K. !
of P, he notified them and they took the |
matter in hand at once; appointed COM
mittee to secure the remains and forward |
to his family. In the meanwhile NJ. Grem-
minger, of Odessa, had gone to Washington
at the request of the family, to see that the
body be brought to Odessa for burial Af-
ter reaching Washington Mr.. Gremminger
sought the whereabouts of the body. and
notified the family that it was found and
would be sent home for burial. He re-
turned home on Monday last leaving the
natter in charge of Union Lodge K. Of P.
4 committee of the lodge left Washing OH
tuesday for the place of burial; disinterred
he remains; had them put in hermeti-
ally sealed case; brought them to Washing
on and sent them to Middletown by ex-
'ress on Wednesday last. They also sent
me of their number, Mr.. R. A. Porter, to
ee that the body was received by the
amily and also to represent the Lodge.
Undertaken ]. H. Enos met the remains at
liddletown on Wednesday morning, and
rought them to his parents home escorted
y delegation from Damon Lodge K. of
,, of Middietown. who acted Us pail |
carers. The funeral services took place
/ 2:30 p. M, and were in charge of Rev. ,
J, Irving Watkins, pastor of the NJ. E
hurch. The interment was at Drawers |
cemetery.
This sad occurrence has cast glot m |
yer the entire community, made the worse :
eCduSe Va Tie circumstances Attending his
cath, and the train of events which have
ID to his recovery and return to his family.
lie was born February 21st. 1868, and was l.
therefore, in his 9th year; a young man de-
oted TO his family, and of exemplary
abits, and is remembered as a respectful
oy by those who knew him at home few
ears ago
To Harry b. Rhodes. N. Gremminger, t
nd Union Lodge No. %. K. of F., are due
ne credit of finding the body and re-
lrnng it to his boyhood home for burial. n
This is the third in train of strange t
1incidences which have occurred in this
lmly. About 1888 Frazier Townsend, q t
scond cousin of the deceased. at about the t
lme age was drowned; and on July 18th, n
'46, his uncle, George F. Croft, was lost p
18th the schooner William Polk on her C
,ird trip to Boston. He too was about the
lme age. t