The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-07

Aof Shouiu 10 % "erhAuB ~ Doyo
to Keep Away From the River.
This mornings sun will rise ON three
unhappy and desolate homes in East
Roanoke, all within q stones throw Of
each other. In each household Is the
romans of beloved child, and the
atricken parents and friends have the
sympathy OF the entire city.
Yesterday afternoon about o'clock
about fifteen boys. between the ages of
and Is years. wens down on the river
for the purpose of bathing. When just
below the mouth of Tinker creek, where
the river Is wide and very deep, several
OF the boys ventured into the water.
while some OF the smaller ones remained
on the bank. Three of .hem, namely
and Clarence Berry, each aged Is years.
got beyond their depths and were
drowned.
The Berry boy was, IL seems, the only
one Of the boys who could swim and he
went to the rescue Of the others, but
WAS unable to save them, losing his life
In the vSin attempt. The little fellow
struggled msnfully, but the deep water
of the river WAS entirely 700 much for
him and he and his companions went
down TO rise no more. A colored 10 an
was bathing in the river just below this
point, and when he saw the boys drown
ing went to their rescue and would have
saved young Berry had 1t not been for
the desperate efforts the others made to
save themselves by catching ON to him
and pulling him into the deepest Of the
water. In order to save himself the
w cd ~ oh ha 10
off.
A hsbing party composed of Jack
Rinker, j. w Falls, ] oe Amos, Clarence
White and JEFF Linkenhoker had not
passed the boys more than fifteen
minutes before lhe drowning occurred.
They were in sight and sufficiently
close at hand to hear the drowning
boys cries for help. The colored man
called for help also, but they could not
reach the scene in time to save them.
The scene Is one that Will long be
remembered by those who Witnessed 1t.
The water was perfectly clear, and at
depth Of less than five feet and not
five yards apart were the bodies OF Lud.
wig and Poage.
They were taken out by Messrs Falls
and Amos, OF the fishing party, who
did all in their power to resuscitate
young Berry was not so easily found :,
and 1t was moro than an hour before
the lifeless corpse was dragged from q
depth If fifteen feet of water by Mr..
Falls.
In the meantime the drowned boy's
e!ght-year-o brother sat On the bank
weeping as though his heart would
break and holding on TO his unfortunate
brothers clothes. The other boys sill
became frightened and ran away from
the terrible scene.
The men were compelled to secure a
boat before they were able to find young
Berry's body.
The news soon reached the city and
spread like wild fire; great many peo-
pie went down to the scene of the drown.
ing. The remains of the three boys
were brought to The undertaking essab.
lishment of Oakley & Woolw inc. where
they were dressed for burial and the
bodies embalmed. The three young
boys who but few hours before were
in the prime OF health. presented aad
spectacle indeed as they lay In the IN
dertaker's establishment. They we're
removed to the homes of their parents
about midnight.
James Poage YVES the son OF Frank
Poage, who resides at sic Fifth avenue
n. e.; Wiley Ludwig wss the son of
Chas. P Ludwig, of $40 Fifth avenue n.
e., and Clarence Berry wss the son of
William Berry, who resides on the
corner OF East avenue and X mball. If
line were drawn from one residence
20 another complete triangle would bs
bs formed with no aides more than one
hundred yards in length.
Taken altogether this ia one. of the
saddest accidents that ever happened
in Roanoke and 1t should be perma-
nens warning TO boys to stay away from
the river.
Parents should be more vigilans and
should not under any circumstances
allow small boys to wander to the river.
In this way "a similar accident can be
averted.
No inquest was held. Coroner Lewis
stated as late hour yesterday that he
had not been notified, but that no in
quest would be held until o-day. 1t ia
not probable that he will do more than
view the bodies
TO MEET AT OLD POINT.
Saratoga, N. Y. Aug. The Amer
lean Dental Association concluded It's
convention here today. These officers
were elected: President. James Tru-
man, Philadelphia; vice presidents,
Thomas FillebFown Roaton. NilIia m