Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1895-05-18
DROWNED In THE RIVER.
John McKeown Drives of
the Orange Street Wharf.
his HORSE AND BUGGY RECOVERED

But His Body stilI at the Bottom Of the
Christiana-Drov From Newark on
Business and Evidently became Bewii-
dered as to His Looation-A Tragic Co.
Incidence.
John McKeown. q well known Young
resident of East Wilmington, and son
Of Mrs. Fannie McKeown Who resides on
Church street, met with his death in a
tragic manner last night. he has been
working for about three months for
Liveryman ID, @ Stirling. who operates
the stables attached to the Washington
house, Newark
About 80 o'clock last evening be told
Mr Stirling that he desired to drive to
Wilmington to see his mother on some
business He took q foe dapple gray
horse, one OF pair OF mated Arabians
and valued at $500, aud a light buggy
made by ]. d. Harper Of Christiana, Pc,
and valued at $175
He drove TO this city and after visiting
his mother started for home. Officer
Lucas saw him At the corner Of Fourth
and Pine streets. At that time. shortly
after ii o'clock. McKeown was sitting In
the buggy with his feet on the dash. and
didn't seem to be intoxicated Half an hour
later 0fieer Lucas saw the team standing
In front OF a saloon at Front and Shipley
streets.
About twenty minutes to 10 o'clock
Officer Kellsher who was at Front and
Shipley streets saw MoKeown driving out
Front street. He supposed he WAS on his
way homo and paid only passing stten-
tlon to the team, until he saw 10 turn down
Orange towards the railroad He knew
that there WAS a train due In a few
minutes aud also that the man could
have no business there and ran to stop
him.
When he reached Orange street the
team bad disappeared The officer ran
ever the trachs towards the city wharf
but before he could reach there the fatal
plunge had been made, and only few
ruiIies on the water showed wneTe they
had sunk. Lanterns were secured but
nothing could be seen.
The case WAS reported at once to the
| police station and Captain Kane set men
At word graphing forl the horse, buggy
and body. At frst considerable doubt
was expressed 40 to whether the officer
had not been mistaken In seeing the
team 20 over, and IL was not until
o'clock, when a boat containing John
MoManus, ]. r. Dsvlin and "a man
named Green, caught the horse and
buggy in the river opposite Pusey q
Il Jones works.
The buggy was right side up when the
| graphing irons caught In the top. Lines
were attached to the horse and the entire
outfit was towed to the B. & o. dock,
where the buggy was hauled out. One
shaft was snapped of, the top was bent
and torn and the dashboard was broken
of even with the box. There WAS moth
ing In It, and IL Is believed that at the
time Of leaving the wharf McKeown WAS
thrown out carrying the dash with him.
Graphing for the body WAS resumed,
but up TO the hour Of going to press IL
had not been found.
The wharf from which McKeown
drove Is OF stone and was built by the
Street and Sewer Department only
recently. Its top is quite distance above
the water, which at this point Is very deep.
the river having been dredged to allow Of
the dockage OF large craft. There Is no
protection from parties driving over but
there WAS no reason 10 believe that any
one would make sush a mistake unless
intoxicated or bewidered.
McKeown was 36 years OF age and un-
married His father met with like
death about eighteen years ago, by
walking overheard at Enoch Moore a.
Sons marine railway. afterwards being
found in the mud sticking head down
l wards