Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1897-07-01
DROWNED IN THE OOHANsEY.
How Tour of Small Pleasure Craft
Ended-A Grief Stricken Wife-Men
Dragging the River for the
Body, Which Was Re-
covered Sunday
Afternoon.


Afternoon.
There was a sad termination at the
beginning of a quiet little fishing party
Saturday. George Foster took his nephew
and boy named Boullard down the
Cohansey tor fishing trip. Heleft home
early Saturday morning and taking
small batteau rowed down the creek.
just at Fairton they saw the schooner,
Horace P" sailing in the same direction
they were going. Mr.. Foster asked for a
tow, which was freey granted. Hepulled
the little beatteau up to the schooner,
made fast to it and he and the two boys
got on board the schooner.
The boat was in charge of Lewis West
colt, who was on his way to Cape May
after load of CLAIMS. Archie Brown, of
Falrton, was on board going to Beuna
Vista for sail. He had the wheel and
Mr.. Foster said he would tend jb and
went forward to do so. The boys sat on
the boat watching their movements. In
the cabin Captain We're Westcott and two
other men.
The boat had nice breeze, and all on
board seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Mr.. Fosters destination was what is
known as the sold Farm" opposite in
the creek is the famous perch fishing
grounds. When they got TO the reach in
the creek above these grounds, Mr..
Foster said he thought he would get in
their small boat so as to be set adrift
when they got there. One of the boys got
IN the boat first. He was soon followed
by Mr.. Foster, who stepped on the bow
of the little craft, which was still fastened
to the schooner by rope. AS he stepped
on his boat Captain Westcott called to
him to go to the other end or it would
sink. The captain says he did not heed
his warning and quicker than it takes to
tell 1t, the small boat took a shoot forward
then careened and sank, taking with it
Mr.. Foster and the boy The boy, how
ever, caught hold of the schooner's yawl
and was saved.
Mr.. Foster threw up his hands and
commenced to splash in the water Che
could not swim) and in less than min
ute sank beneath the waves, never to
rise. He never uttered sound. The
schooner was put about and went to the
place where he went down, thinking,
perhaps, he might rise once, but he was
gone forever. 1t was a sad moment with
Mr.. Fosters little nephew, weeping bit
terly and exclaiming "Oh, what will l
do, now my uncle is drowned ~
The boys were put on board skiff
which was being sailed up the river by
the Moore boys and brought to this city,
where they reported the sad case to Mr..
Fosters wife. Lewis Westcott and Archie
Brown went ashore and came to this city,
where they reported the case to Coroner
+. j. Davis, who in turn reported to
County Physician J. r. G. Thompson.
who ordered the Coroner to institute a
search for the body. Four men were
engaged and with graphing hooks were
taken down to where the body was
drowned. They dragged the creek and
kept up the work all night.
Mr.. Fosters home is down near the oil
cloth factory. He was shearer at the
Cohansey Glassworks. He was about
forty nine years old, married, but had
no children of his own. He had the
care of nephew and two nieces.
the children of Mrs. Westcott's dead sis
ter. When the report of the sad accident
reached his home, Mrs. Foster was pros
trated with grief. Consoling words from
friends who visited the house could not
lessen her grief and meanings, caused by
the loss of her husband and sole support.
Graphing for the body was kept up all
night and Sunday until one O'Clock,
when the body was recovered. 1t was
found about twenty yards from where it
went down. A number of men went out
from Fairton early in the morning and
Joined in the search. Lewis Westcott and
Harry Marts found the body with their
graphing hooks. The body was towed
to Fairton and the Coroner ordered it
removed home. Hundreds of people
looked down on the unfortunate form be-
fore it was removed from Fairton.
When the body reached the sorrowing
home Mrs. Foster went into Mysteries
and her meanings could be heard far
away. 1t was indeed sad sight to see
the woman and two children sobbing so
bitterly.
Thousands suffer from Catarrh or cold