The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-07-24
A Sad Dreaming Accident.

l MIR Charles B. Branch, sou of Rev. Dir.
| Henry Branch, pastor Of the EllicOtt City
Presbyterian Church was drowned on Mon
day while bathing at Richardson's (Old Balti.
more) shore Bush river. lie was ono of an
outing party Of young ladies aud gentlemen
who came from Baltimore to the shore about
two weeks since, bringing with them tents
and other accessories of camp life, and dc
voted themselves to boating and fishing. Scv
cral of the party returned to the city last
week, leaving MIR. Branch aud others Of the
| party who had determined to remain a few
| days longer.
| On Monday afternoon MIR. Branch rode to
| Perrymans, five miles distant, and returned,
| making the round trip in about one hour.
| He ate several green apples and drank guam
| tity of cold water, and shortly afterward
went in bathing. lie went into a rowboat in
| company with several of the party, and after
rowing about fifty yards jumped overheard
with Miss Alice Bartlett, and undertook 10
| swim to the shore. They had gotten only Il
| few feet from the boat when Branchs fea
| lures were seen to relax and he called out,
| "Oh, come to me-" Mr.. George harryman,
| who was following the swimmers iii the boat,
Immediately extended an oar but Mr. Branch
seemed unable to grasp it, and sank rapidly.
AS the boat reached the spot, Mr.. Harry
grasped for Branch's hand, but was unable to
retain it, as the hand slipped and he sank to
the bottom.
"Buck" Moore, the well-kuown waterman,
was witness to the accident, and went at
once to the rescue. lie diveG several times
for the body, but without success. Seincs
were procured and the services Of several col
ored men were called into requisition. The
river was dragged four times, and at mid
night the search was given up.
On Tuesday morning the search was again
taken up under the leadership of Capt. John
I.eight, and the body was brought TO the sur
face within fifteen feet of where Mr.. Branch
was drowned. Justice James w. Malcolm
held an inquest, and verdict was rendered
in accordance with the facts.
Those in the camping party were Mrs.
Taveau tthe chaperone), Misses Alice Bart
lett, Vashti Bartlett, Mamie Polk, Leila
George, Miss Warfie.d, Miss Price, Mr.. Trus
ten Polk and others. A party from Church
vile, which included Revs Kerby 5. Miller,
:. c. WATSON and E. w. Fitz Simon and Mr..
William w. Finney were present at the time
and rendered every possible assistance. They
were graduates of Princeton College, at
which MIR. Branch was student.
Rev. Henry Branch, the father of the I'M
fortunate young man, arrived on the early
train and took the remains 10 Elicott City,
where they were buried on Wednesday after
noon from the Presbyterian Church. Rev.
Mr.. Branch is well known i'll Hartford county,
and only few weeks since assisted in the
ordination of Rev. Kerby s. Miller, pastor of
the Bel Air Presbyterian Church. His son
was in the 24th year OF his age.
An additional and extremely sad sequel to
the affair, was the suicide of Mr.. Richard Pue,
an intimate friend and college mate of young
Branch which took place near Ellicott city
on Wednesday. He remarked to his mother, |
after hearing of the accident, Il wish was i'll |
poor Charities pluce." Then leaving her lie
Went up stairs and shot himself, his death !
being Instantaneous. Young Put was
about % years Of age.