The news & observer., 1897-09-10
A HORRIBLE DEATH.
Mr.. W. ]. GRIFFIN AND Mr.. CLARENCE
WINDER DROWNED.
The Particulars of the Tragedy Given There
is Much Feeling Against The Con-
duct of Capt. Grief.

Elizabeth City. y. c., Sept. S.-The
confirmation of the sad tidings of the
death by drowning of Mr.. w. j. Griffin
and Mr.. Clarence Winder was a great
shock to our entire community. The de-
ceased were both members of the naval
reserves. Mr. Griffin was the captain of
the company.
| An immense concourse of people at
Itended their funeral which took place
today at II and II o'clock respectively
| The services over the remains of Mr..
Griffin were conducted by the Rev. l..
IL. Williams at the Episcopal church. and
the funeral of Mr. Winder took place at
the Methodist church. Both were at
tended with military honors. Places of
business were closed, the hall of the
naval reserves was uraped in mourning.
the members of the company turned out
in a body and the military band played
the dead march.
The shock caused by the tragedy is
widespread and we'll nigh universal,
and the vast number of people who at
tended their obsequies attest the high
lesteem in which the deceased were held.
The victimes of this fatal disaster left
this city Thursday evening in a small
boat for Nag's Head. On Friday after
moon Capt. Trucks Grief, with two 9th
er men, We're coming across the sound
with a load of -four when they saw a
man clinging to the bottom of boat.
He called to them to save him, saying
that if they did not he would surely be
drowned. Grief, it seems, became un-
nerved with fear. though urged by his
ehipmates To go to the rescue of the
drowning man. refused to do so. The
description of the man clinging to the
boat identities him as being Mr.. Griffin.
and there can be but little doubt but
that with a determined effort he could
have been saved. Grief was unwilling
to throw overheard his merchandise to
tighten his boat. and he called ont TO
the rowning man that he could not
help him-that if he tried his boat would
be swamped, that the wind was favor
bic and would soon blow him ashore
Strong feeling exists against the das-
Itardly conduct of Grief. and it would be
well for him to steer clear Of this port
for some time to come.
The steamer Neuse brought home the
bodies of the drowned men about mid
night They were SO badly eaten by
crabs and other scavengerS of the sea.
that they could hardly be identified by
the uniforms they wore.
Mr. Winder and a colored boy, who
We're with Mr.. Griffin when he left here.
were not seen by Capt. Grief and his
men when they passed the capsized
boat on Friday afternoon. They were
evidently drowned at that time. They
were probably washed ashore by the
storm that wrecked the boat on Thurs
day afternoon or Thursday night Mr.
Griffin had probably been clinging to the
oottcm of the boat for twenty-four
hours or more. He had worn the flesh
of his heels to the bone in his desperate
efforts to preserve his life. 1t is impos-
sible tc imagine situation more terri
Bile. Fighting against death for so long.
and as it must have seemed to him. in
terminable hours. hoping against hope,
and seeing relief pass within hailing dis
tance and refusing to heed his cries of
distress.-Special to Norfolk Virginian.