Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-22
THE DEAD GIVEN UP
Miss Bursley's Body Floating in
the River.
FOUND NEAR THE FATED SPOT
Brought to the City on the Police
Boat Blackburn.
DIS CUSSING THE CASE


lost overheard from the steamer Mac
alester e. few evenings ago, was recovered
this morning from the Potomac river very
near the spot where the young lady fell
from the boat. The body was brought to
the city on the police boat Blackburn and
taken to Zurhorst's undertaking establish
ment to be prepared for burial.
The body was first seen by DR.. Keagh,
the family physician of the Bursleys, and
Pilot Cheshire of the steamer Harry Ran
dali. Dr. Keagh had gone down the river
en- the Randall this morning to meet the
police boat Blackburn, which left the wharf
at o'clock, to be present during the search
for the young lady's r>chains, which was
being continued by the police boat and Col
McKibben of Marshall Hall. Just before
reaching Bryan Point, the spot in the river
where Miss Bursley fell from the steamers
rail, the two watchers in the pilot house
discovered the body floating in the water.
The Randall proceeded to Marshall Hall,
and, after landing, DIR. Keagh, continued
some distance further down the river, where
the police boat was seen cruising In search
of the remains.
Recovering the Body.
The police boat was hailed and told where
the body had been seen. Officers Dean and
Lewis of the police boat. with Gen. Duncan
to Marshall Hail. where they picked up DIR.
Keagh and Col. McKibben. Under full
speed the Blackburn proceeded to the spot
in the river where the body had been seen
floating upon the tide. and soon tender
hands had drawn the young lady's remains
aboard and placed IT In the casket which
had been provided for that purpose. There
were no visible signs to show that Miss
Bursey had been struck by the wheel of
the steamer when she fell overheard, and
the body was in good state of preserva-
ton.
Arriving at the police boat wharf. the
friends of the family removed the body to
Zurhorst's undertaking establishment, where
it will be prepared for burial The family
were Immediately notified that Miss Burs-
ley's body had been found, and arrange
ments will be made for the funeral. The
services over the remains will be private
and interment will be made at Congress
sional cemetery. The coroner was notified
of the receipt of the body and will view it
some time this afternoon
In Defense of the Crew.
One of the witnesses of the sad accident
that resulted In Miss Bursley's death has
sent the following statement to The Star:
1T is with surprise and regret that 1
observe some rather averse and, think,
unjust criticisms relative to the manage
ment of his boat and crew by Capt. Blake
after the sad and lamentable drowning of
Miss Bursley last Monday night. Now,
whether her death was due to suicidal in
tent or otherwise am not prepared to say.
But as 1 happened to be sitting within six
or eight feet of her when the unfortunate
affair occurred I feel myself in a position
to speak authoritatively concerning 1t, and
report that 1 am surprised at some of the
criticisms contained in recent papers I
know Capt. Blake only in his official ca
pacity, but, having travelled extensively, /
must say l have never seen any officer I
thought more eminently fitted for his
position or one evincing a more watchful
care over the safety and comfort of his
patrons. AS above observed, l was sitting
within six or eight feet of where Miss
Bursley went overheard, being on the lar
board side and well forward of the wheel.
The accident caused intense excitement.
People were running all over the boat,
many not knowing what really had occur
red, and right here the public should re-
member that large vessel running swiftly
cannot be stopped and rounded to like a
coal cart, nor can the pilot and engineers
be communicated with in an instant and
1t requires the concerted action of both to
handle a vessel successfully. But much
more quickly than 1 had feared it could be
done, the boat was stopped, and rounded
to- aud the search light was playing over
the dark water where Miss Bursley had
disappeared, the life boat was lowered and
manned as quickly as could have been done
by any crew, and had 1t been within the
bounds Of possibility to save her undoubt-
t.,
considering the fact that she went over in
front CT the wheel, 1t is more than prob
able that the body after passing under the
boat never rose to the surface. and. even
II she had, in the pitchy darkness of the
night, 1t would have been a matter of i'm
possibility to save her.
Again 1 see that Capt Blake and his
crew are greatly censured because they
did not throw life preServerS over. Con-
slider the fact for an instant that the boat
must have run 100 yards before the officers
were apprised of what had happened Now
suppose they had thrown every life pre-
server on the boat into the water could
they have reached Miss Bursley In time to
save her? Most assuredy the same cur
rent that carried them down would have
borne her beyond their reach. No. the
whole affair is the result of an unutter-
ably sad and unfortunate accident. Capt
Bursley and family have the warmest and
deepest sympathy of the entire community
In their hour of trial, but at the same time
do not let us allow unjust and undeserved
censure and condemnation to be placed up
on the conduct of brave and efficient Of
ficer, who did all within his power to save
a life. when, feel, only the Divine inter-
position of Providence could have availed
anything.
CareIessness of Passengers.
A correspondent of The Star, who deems
the criticisms of the captain and crew un-
Just, says:
Certainly the captain cannot be blamed
for the unsafe position the boat taken
by grown-up people. Being frequent pas
senger on one of the river boats which
goes down the river Saturday even
ings, l noticed and remarked upon
the carelessness of the passengers. Only
two weeks ego l called the attention
of the captain to a young man sitting out
side Of the railing, on the very edge of the
ship, on a chair tilted back against the
Wheel house. The slightest lurch on the
part of the ship or sudden movement of
the young man would have sent him over
board. To make matters worse, appar-
emily he was asleep. l watched him for
some time. until my nerves We're tested to
the utmost, expecting him to fall over
every minute; then, as l said before, 1
called the captains attention to him, and
he was quickly made to come closer to the
rail
While such accidents are terrible I do
think 1t rather unjust to blame the captain
for the carelessness of passengers who
have reached years of responsibility"
Treasury Receipts.
National bank notes received for re-
demption today. s269.020. Government re-
ceipts-From internal revenue, $3.50, $50; Gus
mi la