Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-22
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY
Two Young People Drowned in Eastern
Branch.
Generally Believed to Have Been an
Accidcnt-The Bodies Recovered
Both Were Well known.

of Anacostia, Miss Katie Canter and Irving
Lysles, lost their lives by drowning, occur
red yesterday afternoon in the Eastern
branch Of the Potomac river, opposite Buzz
Yards Point. Both victims were we'll
known in Anacostia, where both were
members of the choir of Emmanuel Prot
estant Episcopal Church, and both were
universally popular.
Rumors of probable suicide on the part
of each have been freely circulated in Ana
costa, but careful investigation failed to
substantate such theory, and there are
no grounds for believing that the dreadful
affair was other than an accident. Miss
Canter and young Lysles occupied their
usual places in the choir of Emmanuel
Church yesterday morning, and after the
conclusion of the church services agreed to
take boat ride on the river in the after
noon. Accordingly, between 1:30 and 2
o'clock they left Miss Canter's home on
Fillmore street near jefferson, where she
resided with her father and stepmother,
her own mother being dead, and went to
French's boat house, foot Of 18th street,
Southeast Washington, where they hired
fat-bottomed boat Lysles remarked to
Mr.. French. when engaging the boat, that
he preferred one of that sort, as he did not
want one that would easily turn over. No
attention was paid to the remark, except
to comply with the request, as inexperi-
enced persons who go boating often select
similar boats.
On the way to the boat house the young
couple met some friends to whom they
spoke, and Lysles and Miss Canter both
seemed to be in the best of spirits. Seating
themselves in the boat that Mr.. French
furnished them, Lysles took the oars and
rowed a long distance down the river. On
their way back and when nearly opposite
BuzZard's Point, the unfortunate young
people were seen to rise in the boat sud-
denly, and almost Immediately both went
into the river.
An Eye Witness.
So far IS is known, James S. Martin, a
young man who has lived his entire life in
Anacostia, and knew Miss Canter and
Lysles well, was the only witness of the
tragedy. Martin had also been down the
river in a boat and was returning to Ana
costa, and when about 200 yards distant.
saw the movement which preceded the fall
into the river of the young couple.
Martin hurried to the Substaton at Ana
costa, where he told Sergt. kerby and
others that as as he saw Miss Canter
and Lysles leave the boat he fastened to
the scene. Miss Canter did not, he said,
come to the surface at all, but Lysles rose
twice, and once seized hold of the boat.
Even then Martin was too far away to rem
der Lysles any assistance, and catching
the boat, which was about to float away,
towed it to French's boat house, where it
Miss Canter's hat and paraSol, which were
properly taken care of.
One Body Found.
Sergt. Kerby at once reported the facts
to Lieut. McCathran, at the fifth precinct
station house, and quickly as possible
the police boat Joe Blackburn, with Har-
Dor Master Sutton in charge, proceeded to
the place where it was supposed the bodies
were. After several hours search that of
Miss Canter was found a short distance
from where she went down. and brought
to the surface. and then taken on board
the vessel The boat conveyed the remains
to the 1th street wharf. where Coroner
Hammett was communicated with. and a
little later were carried by an undertaken
to Miss Canter's late home.
The news Of the double drowning spread
through Anacostia like wild fire. and by
the time Miss Canter's body reached her
fathers house a large crowd of people had
them were a number of ladies who were
personally acquainted with the dead girl,
and they were so affected by the sight Of
the dripping garments as the body was
carried in and the knowledge of her sad
end that some narrowly escaped fainting
and there were many whose eyes became
dimmed with tears at the scene before
them.
AS soon as the body of Miss Canter had
been put in proper place on shore Harbor
Master Sutton returned with the Joe Black
burn and her crew and renewed the search
for the body OF LySleS, but UP to 10 pm,
when the attempts to recover it were
abandoned for the night, it had not been
found. The search was renewed this
morning, and finally resulted in success.
A Great Loss.
AS has been already said, Miss Canter
was universally popular. She was also
quite pretty, and her manners We're such
as to cause her to be welcome visitor in
any home. She was a daughter of Mr..
George Canter, who has been employed IN
the navy yard for many years. Her step
mother is employed at the pension Office
and Miss Katie who was just budding into.
womanhoo1, had the care of the household
affairs. The Canter family has been
greatly afflicted lately. A little more than
a month ago Mrs. Downing, a sister of Mr.
Canter, was taken i'll at her home in
Washington, and a second sister, Mrs. Roll
lins went from her former home near
Hughesville, Charles county, Maryland, to
nurse her. Mrs. Downing died and her
death was followed by that of Mrs. Rollins
the next day.
Lysles was just past his eighteenth year.
He was plumber by trade and worked for
a Washington house. He was a nice look
ing fellow and was regarded as one of the
best young men in Anacostia. He resided
with his mother, Mrs Robert Perkins, at 321
Monroe street. Both families are complete
" Frustrated by the sudden bereavement
which has befallen them.
No Cause for Suicide.
The young couple were acquainted from
childhood, and it Is understood were en-
gagged to be married. There was, so far as
is known, no opposition to the match from
either side, and the wedding was postponed
only until such time as Lysles could earn a
sufficient sum to enable him to properly
care for his wife.
Probable Cause.
There seems to have been no reason
whatever why Miss Canter and Lysles
should wish to put an end to themselves,
and the theory advanced today by an old
waterman in reference to the matter seems
to be the correct one. This was that Lysles
had become tired while rowing and men
toned the fact to Miss Canter. She prob
ably expressed a willingness to take the
oars, and they rose to exchange places.
They met about midway of the boat, and
in attempting to pass the craft rocked and
both were thrown into the river.
Coroner Hammett visited Anacostia to-
day, and will decide whether or not an in
quest shall be held