The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-13

The old Canal basin has been the scene
of another drowning accident, in which
one young man lost his life while trying
to save that of his companion. The
William Montgomery, both of whom
were natives of Ireland. In company
with G. P. Doutney, friend of about
their own age, the young men went to
the Basin early in the afternoon. It will
| be remem bered that near the railroad
round house, there is a bridge in the
| railway embankment, under which is
a sluice way through which the tide runs
in and out. Victory and Montgomery
| went into the water on the Fore river
side of the railway embankment, and on
the edge of the deep channelsmade by the
WAFER which pours through the sluioe at
every tide. Mr.. Doutney, who is an ex-
pert swimmer, had made his way through
the sluiee and swan some distance away
in the Basin proper. Montgomery was
standing on a stone or some other object
in the water near the bank just before
tha drowning. Near him stood Victory.
Suddenly Montgomery slipped and fell
into deep water A group of young boys
on the bank above saw him grasp Mont
gomery by the arm as he went down.
Then the horror stricken boys saw two
forms come nearly to the surface of the
water, the arms of one around the neck
| of the other. Once or twice again they
came near enough to the surface to be
seen, then they sank to the Shiny mud
at the bottom of'the channel, and rush
of bubbles to the top Of the water mark
ed the spot beneath which. just outside
the bridge, lay the bodies. Benny Foster,
son of Mr.. B. E. Foster of Grant street,
was the first of the boys to Eiealize what
was happening, and give the alarm. He
shouted that the two men were drowning.
Edward Davis. twelve year old boy
who lives at 395 ST. John street, also saw
the accident.
Mr. Doutney said after the accident:
81 heard the boysscrying that the men
were drowning, and went as fast as
could to the railway bridge. but they
| had sank from sight by the time I got
there. Victory could swim perhaps as
far as across the street. When I saw the
two last, Victory Was urging Montgom-
cry to let him teach Montgomery to
swim. l only know what 1 was told
about the drowning of course. I had
the clothing of the two Victims taken to
the Maine Central shops and message
cent to Mr.. Rich, the undertaken"
Thomas Foley and Henry Bovinet
as soon as they heard of the accident,
FASTENED form the Maine Central shops
and procured a boat and iron for Crap
ping. SO that by the time that Mr.. Rich
and Deputy Marshal Sterling arrived,
the bodies had been recovered. But
they had lain in the water so long that
there was no chance for spark of life to
be left.
Young Victory has liverd in this ooun-
try for some time. He went home to
Ireland on VISIT returning to this coun-
try last winter. With him came Mont
gomery and +. j. Dunn. Victory had
been employed in Portland hotels of late
having had charge of the cigar stand at
the Congress Square. Montgomery had
been employed at the Preble, but had
left There within the past few days and
had secured position in the hotel with
his friend. Dunn, who came to this
country with them, was living at 155
East 29th street, New York, for he
wrote to Victory from there. In one of
the pockets of Montgomery's clothing
was found long and affectionate letter,
from his mother, Mrs. e. Montgomery,
South Circular road, Dublin. 1t will be
sad news which the answer to that letter,
written by an unfamiliar hand. will car
~ to the home in far off Dublin.
Victory and Montgomery have been
boarding with Mrs. j. B. Irish. at %
Green street. Mrs. Irish says that they
were talking at dinner of going in bath
ing at the Basin. Mrs. Irish. however,
knew little about the young men or their
families.
1t is said that Viotory's father is this
country, being in the employ of life in
sGranoe company in the West. Montgom-
ery's father is said to be the owner of a
large wholesale tea store in Dublin.
The removal of the bodies attracted
great crowd of the morbid and curious.
The little bridge on the railway embank-
ment is nearly quarter of mile from
the nearest house, but before the bodies
were recovered a group of 40 or so persons
was standing by, many of them women
whose light summer dresses and gay col.
ored parasols seemed strangely out of
place.
Last evening Mr.. Costello of the Preble
house and Mr.. Rich, decided to cable
Montgomery family at Dublin. Ireland,
who are we'll to do, asking what dis
position should he made of the remaius.
Montgomerys' father is Mr. Patrick Mon
gomery of No. Dean street, Dublin.
Arrangements will probably be made to
take cure of the remains till an answer
is received. Victory's remains will prob
ably be- buried at Calvary.
Victory and Montgomery both lived at
MI. Thaxter's on Green street.