The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-01-12
Searching for the Body,


The river being sufficiently clear OF ice on
Monday, the search for the body of William
Fears who was drowned Off Ford's Landing
on Dee. 10, was begun, but at latest reports
the body had not been found. A party in
Guiding Henry Webb, Joseph Cordray, Ed
ward Brown, Alphonso Brown and George
Pote on Monday dragged the river oil Ford 5
Landing. and are now continuing their search
along the river. When drowned Fears Wore
heavy gum boots and rubber coat, and it is
the theory of many that the remains will be
found not far from where he met his death,
near the mouth of the Bohemia river. while
others think the remains have been carried
out with the ice.
Henry Webb who also narrowly escaped
with his life, writes as follows concerning the
drowning of Captain William Fears:
"Will Mr.. Fears and l started down the
river in two skifs to take up three pound
nets we had SET about half mile this side of
Turkey Point. When we got there the wind
was very light from the northeast, but cold
81 started to take off the net and Will took
up the poles. When | got all the nets off
put my skin i'll near shore, and helped VIII to
put the poles away. This took us all day and
got so cold we could not work very fast. The
net froze rs fast as | took it out of the water
had to tramp it to get it into the skiff
When was ready to start for home, Will had
about l5 minutes more Of work to do.
1T was nearly calm in the cove at the time
the high bans keeping the wind off Of us.
The snow was so thick we could hardly see
so yards ahead. But We were used to such
weather Still, i'll that thick snow was our
danger 1t kept US from seeing outside the
cove and we could not tell how hard the wind
was blowing. To be on the safe side put up
only my foresai, furled my mainsail, and
aid it down on the load of nets. / then
started out of the cove to beat my way up the
river.
"A5 soon as got outside of the point | got
the full force of the storm. tried to put my
boat about and run back into the cove again.
l broke my rudder in the attempt and then
tried to scuii the skifT around with an oar
and broke that also. | might as well have
tried to turn schooner with feather. The
Wlnu WIS bloWIHB u Soic anu IL was il''HhS
cold. There was nothing to do but stand
ross the river and try to weather it.
When about half way across my sail began
to tear out Of the club. Then | thought it
was all up with me. But there was one
PIE &c of rope that held on to the end of the
spreat and that saved me. Had that broken
the sail would have broken out with the
wind and the waves would have swamped the
skin.
"As got near shore the mast broke. Then
turned her with the wind and ran for Cap
tain Johns creek and to safety. When | got
there was covered with ice and my nets
an boat were thick with it. She is there yet
n 'arly wreck.
''Reaching shore / started for IA ilsherman's
cabin. almost dead, and wet through with
sweat from my fight for life. Yet my clothes
were covered with ice. While walking along
the shore to the cabin / heard Will call for
me and for help. But | could not see him.
If | had / could not have given him any
help.
''1he next morning we found his skiff
bottom up, about 1876 yards from shore. We
cannot get him until the ice leaves the shore"