New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-30

4 CROWD OF BOSTON CHILDREN OVER
TURNED INTO THE WATER
FOUR DROWNED AND MANY SAVED ONLY By
GREAT EXERTlONs FAULTY coz
sTRUCTION THE CAUSE.

GREAT ENEKTlONS FAULTY Coz
sTRrcTIoN THE CAUSE.
Boston, June &9.-One OF the saddest accidents
that have ever occurred on the Boston water front
took place at Castle Island off city Point. this
afternoon. At about 2:30 o'clock. Seventy-fiye chill
dren We're rickety. unsafe gangplank and
hoat at the landing south OF the bridge nom the
point TO the island. when the float overturned the
nimsy guarlras of the gangplank split. and thirty
or more Of the children tumbed into at least
twelve feet OF water. -Four boys. from nine to
twelve years old. We're drowned: four children
were picked mp unconscious and later revived. and
the others. 50 far known. rescued.
The dead James II. Washburn nine years
No. l56 Est South Boston; James +. Cole. eleven
years. No. 4G LIST. South Boston: Lawrence Ne
Dowell twelve years. No. s7i Broadway. South Hos-
ton. and an unknown lad OF twelve years.
The injured are Lillian Duffy eleven years. %
k-st. South Boston. and Harry Sampson. ten years.
JameS-ayc
To-day was TO be observed Farragut Day In
South boston. and in honor OF the day the South
Boston Historical Society had distributed a large
number OF buttons among children emitting them
10 free ride the steamer from city Point across
TO Castle Island. As result. the little steamer
crowded her trips in the afternoon. and so
early did the rush begin that the police force de
tailed for afternoon duty at Castle Island had not
arrived
The little steamboat Ella. Captain + W Webber
arrived at the float with big list of children pas
senRers from the point 23O O'Clock. and began
to unload them on the float Just a. nfty children
the granite pier started on 4 run down the
eangrlank to go board The two crowds met the
float upset, the gangplank split. and there a
splash When the float overturned almost inde
scriblble excitement prevailed AID only tho heroic
work Of half dozen who happened to be near
and rushed down TO the pier prevented what might
have been much worse horror
A. the situation fully realized the
work OF rescue begun. I'm which the officers Of
the steamer Sergeant McGrath. l.. :. A. stationed
on Castle Island: Lieutenant Watkins Of Police
Station 40. y. ana several others PLAYED a heroic
part Among them was John Haley. d young man
saved young SAMPSON holding him up until both
could be rescued with.a boat and line.
The first body was recovered about , 20 o'clock by
men in rowboat. the second 10y the police patrol
boat with graphing irons scon after g. and ;he
diver. Two hours later the diver searched the
water around the pier. bat found more hClics.
The dead wcr" taken from the steamer a. CITY
Point boy the police and placed I'm an ambulance.
hy which they were conveyed 20 the rooms oi
underfAkers
The Incidents at the island and po,nt while tho
search was KEEP mp Were sad 20 soc Many women
were hysericiI AID frantic. crying and saying that
their boys had not come home ana they Ger
tain that the boys the ISLAND he time
o. the accident The noat built last May
sioacrs. and the builders ar" hoirg roundiy cen
sur-l on an sides for 90 nmey ard faulty COZ
s'ructon. Il small and cn'apiy built % narrow
timber and oh barrels. and was not properly
10 Il Is made of knott~i and thin yellow pine rails
and plark-