The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-19
DROWNING OF TWO BOYS
THEY HAD DRIVEN A WAGON INTO
THE RIVER NEAR BELT BRIDGE.
Both Lost Their Lives Trying to Ex-
tricate the Horse, Which
Was Also Drowned.

Two boys were drowned in White river
| under the Belt bridge. south of the city.
| yesterday afternoon at o'clock. They
were driving a rough, heavy one-horse
wagon, which they had apparently used
for hauling wood. In driving about in the
water for the evident purpose of wetting
the wagon, they got into a hole too deep
for the horse. and in the effort to save
the horse both boys lost their lives.
AT the time Of the accident there were
a number of men at work on the bridge
above and also two or three boys idling
there, watching the men at work. From
the accounts given by them of the affair
it seems that the boys drove into the wa
ter from the east bank, above the bridge.
The water is shallow above the bridge and
the river is forded by wagons at this sea-
son Of the year. Those on the bridge who
saw the boys drive in thought nothing of
it, for other wagons were passing through
at frequent intervals.
Presently the people on the bridge were
attracted by the cries of the smaller boy,
and it was noticed that the lads had driv-
en- under the bridge and into a deep hole
just south of the middle pier. The horse
was too deep for him to wade and which
he could not swim in, owing to his en-
taglement with the harness. The larger
of the boys was holding the reins and he
tried to pull the horse back into the shall
low water. but the animal was thoroughly
scared and, in making another lunge, the
front part Of the wagon went into the
deep hole and the boys were thrown off
the seat into the, water. Some one from
above shouted to the lads to cut the
horse loose and the smaller one scrambled
around to the horses head to get hold of
the bride. Just then the horse made an
other frantic effort 10 escape, and, making
another lunge forward. his fore feet struck
the small boy in the head. The boy sank
and was seen no more. The older boy
probably found the lines entangled about
| him. for when the horse finally was drawn
down and drowned the second boy also
disappeared.
The news of the drowning was carried
rapidly about the south part of the city.
| and in very short time hundreds OF peo-
| pie were attracted TO the river bank.
Someone telephoned 20 the police station
| that a man, two women and a child had
| gone down with the BelG bridge and were
drowned. officers were at once sent to
the scene and the superintendent himself
| drove hastily TO the place. Patrolman
Mathey was attending picnic at Garfield
| Park when the report reached him and he
| arrived at the river. before anything had
| been done to recover the bodies. The cor
oner notified and in the course of an
hour and a half he sent a deputy, with
assistants. prepared 10 drag the river.
The bodies were found after an hours
work, almost where they went down. The
horse and wagon were also dragged TO
the shore.
No one seemed to know who the boys
were. ALT Anderson, OF No. 991 South Ne
ridian street. and Harry Steele. OF Ray
street, were among those on the bridge who
witnessed the drowning. They noticed the
boys drive in the. water and saw them
son said after the accident that they might
have saved the boys lives IL they had
taken the trouble to tell them of the deep
hole which they were driving toward, but
they had seen the boys about there often
before they thought and took 1t for granted
they were acquainted with the river 1t
was not until il was too late to lend any
aid that they realized how much good a
word OF warning would have done.
The wagon in which the boys were riding
when drowned was of a heavy running
gear, with an old farm bed which had been
made higher by adding new pine plank to
the sides. The water about the place Wnere
of kindling wood. 1t was the belief OF the
boys about the place, who claim to nave
seen the wagon before. that IL was used as
a Vehicle for peddling kindling wood In
book found floating in the water We're
several memoranda which appeared to be
a rough account of sales made ana ORDERS
Further than statement that the two
boys and the wagon were familiar to sev-
drowning nothing could be learned which
would serve to identify the two boys VINO
were drowned. One young man thought
the wagon answered the description or That
owned by man living on Morton street
who was engaged in peddling WOOD. How
ever, he did not know of the wagon ever
being in the possession OF Two poys. II
was found later that the Morton-street
man was at home with his wagon.
The bodies were taken TO Wnitsetts
morgue where several anxious mothers
and fathers took looks at them, but found
of the two boys was probably about nine
| teen years old, with dark brown hair and
| grey eyes He was fully grown and or
| medium height and very muscular in build
! The smaller boy was not over eight or nine
| wears old and had light hair and blue eyes
! He wore pair OF BLUSH knee pants ana
blue and white polka dot waist,
| At 3 o'clock last night brother or one
of the boys identified the bodies as those
| of Edward Doyle. aged seventeen, OF 20
! Coburn street. and Robert Meadows. aged
seven, of % Coburn street Doyie parents
| live in the country south OF the city: he
| has been boarding with a married sister.
! Mrs. Hill. and has been engaged in ped
ding wood about the parts Oh the city
where natural gas Is not usea; hooert
| laboring man. His parents ana brother
| first learned of his death through play
mate of the boy who happened 10 be at
| the river when the bodies were recovered;
| The little fellow was so BABY frightened
| that he ran home as soon as he recognized
| his friend and said nothing ABOUT IL until
| bedtime. when he was afraid 10 go 10 peg,
and. when pressed for reason; ,9iu ms
| drowned The friends of the Doyie boy
| were away from home last night ana knew
! nothing of his DEATH An EFFORT was made
| 10 locate them where they had gone 70
| spend the night in West indianapolis.
Grand Army Matters.