The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-12
GIVING UP IT'S DEAD
Threes ( the Bodies Of the Drowned Fisher
men Recovered Yesterday.
FRANK FAUAcE'S THRILLING STORY.
Aa Told nt tho Inquest Held BY
Justice of the Peace Gresham
One Colored Hero volunteered TO
90 TO the Rescue--A Crew OF Fisher.
nan and life Saver Refused.

| Three of the bodies of the unfortu-
| nate victims of the drowning accident
| near Virginia Beach on Friday after
| noon have been recovered. They are:
PERCY FAUNCE. the 1S-year-old son
of Capt. John Faunce, the owner of the
!. LEWIS JAMES. colored. single, liv
ing at Little Neck. in Princess Anne
county
MOSES WHITEHURST. colored, q
wldower. who left one child. q boy s
years old, living at Little Neck.
The bodies of six of the victims still
remain at the bottom of the sea or en-
tangled In the sturgeon nets which the
men were taking out to place In posi-
ton. and which are now about 100 yards
northeast of the cabin on the beach,
used by the fishermen.
Yesterday Il Nirginian reporter, the
first newspaper man to visit the scene
since the fearful loss of life, spent the
entire day with the fishermen, looking
for bodies which might come to the
surface and preparing those already re-
covered for burial. Every fisherman
along the beach. white and colored,
was there. ready to lend any assistance
in their power to Frank Faunce, the
young man who was rendered father
less and brotherless by the cruel break
ers. as he was making every effort to
save them.
The first body to come ashore was
that of Percy Faunce. 1t was seen to
wash up OH the beach Friday night
about $40 o'clock, and Wilson Hunter.
colored man employed by Fauncc,
made run TO the waters edge TO Sc
cure 1t. but before reaching the surf il
was taken by the strong undertow out
10 sea again. At midnight, however.
ed. Williams. of No. Life Saving Sta
| ton. saw body about 300 yards below
the cabin and hauled 1t high up on the
SAND. 1t was the body of young Faunce
An hour later he discovered two more
bodies. which turned out to be those of
Lewis James and Moses Whitehurst.
with the assistance of JOHN Robinson
nnd John Sparrow. two of the life savers.
all of the bodies were removed to the
porch of the cabin in which the Faunces
and the white men of their crew slept,
ana there laid out to await an inquest.
All night and all day yesterday the
beach was closely watched. but no other
bodies were seen. 1t Is the opinion of
the fishermen that when the boat up-
set the colorcd men became entaAeled
IN the net and that as soon as the sea
subsidies they will be recovered
Justice of the Peace n. b. Gresham
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning held an
inquest on the bodies recovered the
Jury iinding that the drowning was ac-
lcidental. Following We're the members
OF the jury, summoned by Constable T.
7. Gresham: Capt j. Q. Price. Capt.
w. s. Price. l.. c. Price. G. n. Oglesby
Henfy Blaithwaite and Henry Ives
The principal witness at the inquest
was Frank u. raunce. the 20-year-oid
son and brother of two of the victims
who related thrilling story of the
perlshing of the boat load of men.
Went down to the beach with the
crew. said young l'aunce. land saw
ra1,
In IL was i2S pounds of iron for anchors
ana llo fathoms of sturgeon net The
boat got off safely and / turned nv
Lack and started towards the cabin
walked about twenty feet and turning
towards the sea. saw my father ant
prothef on the bottom OF the upturnet
BOAT. None OF the crew We're in sight
shouted for help and several mer
came running down TO the sea from thu
'apih got the SiNteen-foot dory ant
started to launch 1t. but could not d,
so alone. Just then | saw Cant. Joh,
Jones boat out To sea and waved her I'm
The men pulled towards shore al
came within thirty yards of my fathc
ana brother who called for help. Tn
men III the boat. instead Of going I,
their rescue. turned northward and ic
! nored their appeals. They came OF
J the peach. then called for volunteer
lor crew and Wilson Hunter. q col
ored man. at once offered to go. Not
single man in Jones crew or our exit;
crew would GO
Just then | saw Capt. Mack Corbel
or NO. Life Saving Station, comm,
up the beach. appealed to him 10 as
= SYST IN the rescue. but he refused an
drove off up the beach, where he too
train for Norfolk All we wanted w.,
man for leader and believe that
crew would have volunteered.
Half an hour passed with nv fatbe
! ana brother on the upturned boat and
. hltched up horse and drove to No.
Lille Saving Station. The men turne
out instantly and came back with M,
. determined to launch Jones boat an
rescue the men. But when we returrc
TO the spot they had disappeared
drowned-and our boat had iloate
ashore.
While the sea was rough 1t was no
dangerous. and we could have save
them. They were on the outer bo,
propa bly, 200 or 300 yards from shore"
Several other witnesses testified thu
the rescue of the men would not hov
peen j perilous one and an attempt a
rescue would have been crowned Wit
success, in their Judgment
In concluding his testimony. Fra nj
Faunce said: My father was the frs
to leave the boat. He was washed OF
My brother started to swim ashore nm,
: could have saved his life but when n
e saw that father was not following. re
turned to the boat. If they could hav
neid TO the boat ten minutes longe
. their lives would have been saved"
L ~ f1,A, ,-tt