Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-24
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Three Augusta Boys Missing
and Probably Drowned.
Edwin Nash, Joseph Wight and Lewis
Moore, Boating Above Dam.
Boat Found Capsized-Nash's Cap Fioaiing
in Water Boys Missing.

Augusta people were Mortified by a
report which reached the city, late Sun
day afternoon, to the effect that three
of the best known and most respected
Joseph M. Wight, and Lewis b. Moore,
had been drowned by the overlapping
of their boat on the Kennebec river,
about 3ia miles above the dam.
The first intelligence of the accident
was received soon after o'clock Sun
day afternoon, when a Frenchman
named Austin Coret reported to the
officers at the police station that he had
found an overturned canoe" about three
miles above the dam. and that as there
were several articles, including pro-
visions. in the boat, he thought some
accident must have happened.
lie had seen the three men in the
boat, previous to finding II bottom up,
and thought they must have been
drowned. as the wind was blowing a
gale and the water was very rough.
He righted the boat and lowed it
ashore. and after making it fast and
securing the contents, came to the city
and reported
1t was not known for a certainty to
whom the boat belonged. as there had
been other parties on the river during
the day, but they were speedily ac-
counted for, and as none Of the three
boys had returned home at nightfall,
grave fears were entertained regard
ing their safety.
Inquiry revealed the fact that they
had started at about . o'clock in the
morning. for camp at F4ve-Mile island
to spend the day and took their dinner
with them. The dinner box in the boat
was identified as belonging to Mr..
Moore, and the pipe case and tobacco
pouch to Mr.. Wight.
This evidence, coupled with the fact
that the boat was found far this side
of their point of destination nctwith-
standing the heavy southerly wind
that was blowing, could not fail to
Danish any hope that they might be on
the island. and there was a general
feeling that the worst fears would be
realized.
A visit to the boat house at the dam
resulted in finding Mr.. Nash's bicycle
locked in the house. Officer Grover
and DR.. A. c. Titcomb then took a boat
belonging to the latter and rowed to the
island, but their search was fruitless
except that they found the boat fast
ened as Mr.. Coret had left it. and
brought it down to the house.
Captain Chas. Nash father of Edwin
was down river but arrived home at
about o'clock, and on being told of
the accident Immediately drove up the
river road and made thorough search
cf the shore. Here was found an oar,
and also a cap, which Captain Nash
recognized as belonging TO his son ami
was convinced that the boys were lost
The cause of the accident win Prob
ably never be known. The boat was
not a canoe, as called by Mr.. Coret, but
an ordinary row boat. about is feet
long, painted white. and the property
of Mr. Nash.
The only theory seems to be that the
boat must have been swamped by the
rough water, and overturned. A river
man living near the place where the
boat was found, said, last night, that,
he had been on the river for rs years,
and in all his experience had never seen
such waves running as were kicked up
by the wind of Sunday. Mr.. Moore
could not swim, and it is said that
Mr. Nash could not.
OF course nothing could be done, last
night, toward searching for the bodies
of the missing men, but an effort will
be made to find them. this morning.