Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-10
DRAGGING THE RIVER
Christian Wagner Goes to His Death in the
Swift Current.
On . Ftshfns Trip to the Chain
Bridge-Body Has Not Been
Recovered.

Christian Wagner. the eighteen-year-old
nephew and adopted son Of Mr.. George w.
Thomas. a carpenter Of 1907 It'll street, was
drowned yesterday afternoon about 30
O'Clock on the Virginia side Of the Potomac
river. a few hundred yards from the Chain
bridge. The story OF the drowning Is par-
ticularly sad, as there were within a few
feet of the boy a number Of friends who
would have willingly sacrificed their lives
In an attempt to save him. but to no avail.
The drowned boy was a member of a
party consisting Of Mr.. G. w. Thomas, Mr..
Rogers. Mr.. William Thomas. Charles Wag-
ner. a younger brother and the drowned
boy himself. There were one or two others
in the party. 1t was early in the morning
when the entire crowd left the city for
day of pleasure and recreation, little dream
ing that the end would be so sad and dis
tressing. At q little after o'clock in the
morning the party arrived at the place. and
soon preparations were in full blast to
catch fish and enjoy the trip.
Charles Wagner, the younger brother of
the unfortunate boy. was standing on a
Gated about so yards from the bank of
Pimmett's Run. and about $50 yards from
the Chain bridge. He had been on the
rock since the party reached the scene.
in the water for perch. He had caught a
number Of fish from the rock. which at
the time was about two and half. or per-
haps three feet, from the water the cur
rent at the place being very swift on ac-
count Of the rapids above and the narrow
channel Christian wanted to take his
brothers place. and the latter turned his
net over to the brother. That was about
lbs O'Clock in the afternoon.
A short distance from the rock Mr..
Rogers had built small fire. and was
pianked shad. while Mr.. Thomas was
cleaning the balance Of the catch to save
the trouble when the party returned home
The other members of the party were scat
utes after Christian had taken hold OF
tie net. there was cry which Startled
all. and looking around they saw the boy
overheard. battling with the swift current.
He had evidently slipped of the rock into
the deep water. All hands IAN 20 the Ies-
cue.
Mr.. Rogers. who can swim but very little.
jumped overheard to catch the youth while
the brother held out a fishing rod for the
drowning boy to catch hold of when he
came up again. The boy in the water
seemed to have lost all presence Of mind.
and was unable to grasp the rod, where
board to save him. Mr.. Thomas in the ex-
element. also fell over in the water. but
he was able to get himself out.
In the meantime Mr.. Rogers. who had
jumped overheard first, was playing out,
and not being a strong swimmer. was go
ing down. Mr.. Thomas managed to save
him in time. and then attention was turned
to the missing Christian, who had only
come up once. His brother was diving in
the water with his clothes on. endeavoring
to reach the body, but to no avail and he
was forced to come out. The water swept
by and no trace was left of the drowned
boy. The pleasure of the party Immediate
ly turned into sadness, and steps were i'm
medately taken to recover the body. From
. O'Clock until dark efforts were made to
get the corpse but with no success.
The drowned boy was great favorite
with all who knew him. on account of his
pleasant ways and happy manner. and no
one feels his loss more deeply than does
his adopted father and uncle. The drowned
boy planned the trip. and the Saturday
afternoon before had taken a wagon and
secured bait at Rock creek. so as to COM
plete preparations for the day. Only few
days ago he stood at the wharf from which
young Perkins was drowned, and so intent
was he on watching the dragging for the
body that he did not want to leave, and
remained at the spot for several hours
hoping that the body would be brought to
the surface. -s.. --.
He little dreamed that a similar fate
would befall him in such short time.
This morning the large boat of the har-
bormaster, with Capt. Perry in charge,
and a number of detailed police officers.
dragged over the spot where the young
man went down, but to no good. The wa
| ter is very swift at the point. and the bot
tom very rocky and uneven. and the work
of dragging is hard and tedious. Up to
within few minutes of two o'clock this
afternoon the body had not been recovered.