San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-04-11
NEWSBOY DROWNED.
WAS PLAYING ALONG THE RIVER
AND SLIPPED.
A Sad Tragedy and One That it
Appears Could Have Been
Averted.

With a continual stream Of foot pas
scngers over Commerce street bridge
every hour and minute OF the working
day, a sad tragedy by drowning occurred
Yesterday afternoon at about o'clock,
and fearful to relate, the accident was
witnessed by many people who seemed
not to have sense enough to leap into the
newsboy, Bobby HolcOmbe, aged years,
whom they viewed struggling for his life,
and after sinking and rising three times,
sank from their cruel stare TO watery
grave.
Two noble fellows, Theo. p. Gibbs and
Alexander Bowers, leaped into the water
as the boy sank for the last time,
searched for the body for several minutes
finally secured 1t and brought IL TO shore,
bnt life was extinct when IL was taken TO
the City Drug Store and four physicians
coul 1 not reSuScitate the drowned child.
The accident was caused by the child
slipping off the bank, under the bridge,
in the deepest water, which though shall
low enough to wade a few yards below, is
about twelve feet deep at this point.
He had been catching craytish with two
other little boys, and walking along the
narrow bank. had missed his footing and
drowned before the eyes OF his two little
companions. He could not swim;
The boy, with his younger brother, were
the LIGHT's brightest newsbOys. Bobby
had not taken papers yesterday, but the
Younger one had, and when he heard
boy had drowned and was told 1t was his
brother, he ran in'o the drug store with
his bundle of papers under his arm and
tried to arouse his brother. 1t was a
heart breaking scene to witness the
child's grief at the loss Of his loved broth
er and playmate.
When his mother was notified and
came, her grief caused the sympathetic
OnlOokerS TO wipe the dew from their
eyes.
The body was removed to an under
takers establishment and Coroner De-
vine began his inquest.
The remains were removed to the resi-
dence Of Major J. C. Berry. ST Avenue
ID. where the funeral will occur at this
Robert 5. and Salie X. HOlcOmbe. They
live at No. G4 Delmar street, in South
Heights.
The boys father, r. S. Holcombe, is a
lawyer, formerly OF Birmingham, Ala.
He was there law partner Of Hon. ohm
NJ. Morton, congressman. He came TO
San Antonio some Is months ago, for his
health. He is u cousin to Major Berry.
DR.. D. Berry and Mrs. 5. G. Newton.
The little fellow was very industrious
and was also a good boy. He always car
ried his small earnings home and
gave them to his mother to keep for
him. A gentleman who knew him well on
account of being one of his regular"
customers. relates that he always sold
one paper to a baker on North Flores
street, taking bread in exchange. Some
times a cake would be given him for
"peInne," and thin he would walk all the
miles, and deliver both bread and cake to
his mother.
This gentleman once helped him to get
his cake from larger boy who had taken
it from him and hadStOlen a bite. The
child appealed 10 him saying, "IOu're a
man, and he's bigger than me. Make
him give it up, | want to take it home, y
and the big boy gave up the cake and
skunk away.