The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-16
Mr.. JOHN DO NE|L DROWNED
A Sad Accident at Ocean View
Sunday Morning.
The Young Man ATTACKED With
Cramps While Getting Oysters
at Little Bay and Fell Into
Cat Hole. An Unfor-
tunate Occurrence.

The death Of MIR. John j. O'Neil by
drowning at Ocean Viey on Sunday
was enc OF the saddest accidents that
Inns ever occurred in this vicinity, aud
adds another victim to the already long
list OF persons drowned this year.
MIR. O'Neil was one of tho most pop.
ular young men in the oity, and was
known to nearly every one in it. He
was particularly popular with the Gus
toners of MIR. &. ID. Kenney. of whose
business no Ii. been the Norfolk man.
agcr Tor over fourteen years.
On Saturday night last MIR. O'Nell
met MIR. Robert j. Dyke on the street
and after some conversation he accept.
Cd MIR. Dykes Invitation to visit tho
Hygeia Club on Little Bay, near Ocean
View, and remain there over Sunday.
Mr.. Dykes called at the store OF MIR.
O'Neil about i o'clock that night and
together they drove down to the Club
house with the intention of spending
the night aud Sunday there.
Before leaving MIR. O'Neil sent word
to his wife informing her where he
was going and it is said that she asked
him not to 90 down there as only the
day before his brother in law, MIR.
Arthur Page, had been seriously in
jured.
He laughipgly told her that he
would not be in any danger aud said
TINT he would drive down
On the Arrival Of the party at Ocean
View. about il o'clock Saturday, MIR.
O'Ncil called on his brother in law,
who had been seriously injured aud
inquired concerning his condition,
utter which they went to the Hypein
Club House.
They had been at the club but n
short time when MIR. Metcnlf, one of
the party, suggested that they go down
The bay and catch some oysters for
breakfast. Mr.. Dykes tried to dis.
suade them from this but they were
determined TO go and their determine.
ton cost Mr.. O'NeIl his life.
Messrs. O'Neil and Metcalf secured
permission from the watchmau of one
of tho oyster beds to get n few oysters
aud they waded ont Ill the water until
ii reached their chests, the rest of the
party remaining on shore aud watch
| ing them.
MIR. O'Neil had basket on one arm
and bucket on the other, and into
these receptaces the bivalvos we're
placed by Mr.. Metcalf, who WINS diving
tor them. The bucket had been filed
and the basket partly so, when sud
denly MIR. O'Neifs hat blew off. MIR.
Metcnlf swan after it and got it, but
when lie turned to restore it TO the
owner, MIR. O'Neil WAS not to be seen.
Frightened beyond measure MIR.
Metcnii called to his companion several
times, but receiving no answer and
snrmislng that he had been drowned,
he started for help. Procuring the ns
sistance of two gentlemeE, who were
III the party, they returned in boat.
but were TWO late to DO of nuy assist.
nuce. 1t was SO dark that no trace of
MIR. O'Neil could DO found. and ms no
cries were henrd, 1t Is supposed that he
never arose after having once sunk,
The men used every effort TO recover
the body, but it was not until nearly
= o clock that 1t wns found. Though
every means was used to aid in resns-
citation, all were without avail. The
body was found In n cat hole, where the
water was fairly deep, and when dis.
covered the features aad arms were
drawn and twisted. showing almost
concluslvoly that Mr.. O'Neil had been
attacked by cramps.
Ihe body was taken to the Ocean
Wow Hotel. where Justice Hawks sum.
moned jury OF inquest aHd viewed 1t.
a verdict Of accidental drowning was
returned.
Sunday afternoon the remains were
brought TO Mr.. O'Neil's home at No 7S
fenchnrch street IN this city, where
hundreds OF his friends who had heard
of the sad occurrence viewed them.
MIR. O'Neil was IS years old and LETT
q wife and two small children.
The funetai services were held at the
residence yesterday afternoon aud the
body was taken to Baltimore, the
former home of the deceased last
night on the Bay Limo steamer for III
terment.
a horse kicked II. S. Shafer, of the