Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-02
BOYS BODY RECOVERED
Police Boat Vigilant Returns With Remains
Of Little Fred Bulingame.
Discovered Floating in the Omen
Violence Of the Storm

The police boat Vigilant returned to the
city last evening at o'clock with the
body of Fred Burlingame the eight-year-
old son of Mr.. F. H. Buringame custodian
OF presses of the bureau of engraving and
printing. As exclusively announced In The
Star last Tuesday. the little fellow was
drowned off his fathers boat, the VILLA m
Washington, in a squall last Monday night
Through the kindness Of Commissioner
Ross the police boat was ordered to the
scene Of the wreck off Sandy Point. and
directed to search for the body. The tops
OF the masts of the sunken boat were plain
iy visible. and the police boat crew directed
its energies to dragging about the wreck
Inc water was quite deep and the men
eAperienced considerable trouble in their
Work. shortly before o'clock a schooner
spoke the Nigilant. and reported that the
schooner Walter p. Snow Captain Roberts.
nad discovered the body floating in the
man channel this side of Clifton Beach.
ana was lying close by watching it until
the arrival of the police boat Harbor
Master Sutton called in his men and all
steam was crowded on for Clifton Beach.
The Fathers Discovery.
The agonized father of the boy was in
the pilot house and was among the first 40
>ciscovar the body. A boat was lowered
ana the remains carefully and tenderly
placed in the bottom. After a word of
thanks &c Captain Roberts. the Vigilant
was put about, and hurredly returned to
the city.
TIE storm which sunk the William Wash
ihston was a severe one. During Mondav
afternoon signs of the approaching sauaii
We're visible, and toward sunset all YES
sells in sight sought shelter of Sandy
Polnt there is but little good harbor. and
the river is very wide. giving the wind a
chance to blow its hardest. Out in the
middle OF the stream, fully a mile and a
half from shore, the William Washington
came TO anchor. Everything was made
snug for the night The sails were furled
the anchor dropped and preparations made
Tor weathering the storm. 1t did not break
In all its fury until o'clock, and then il
came. heralded by the most magnificent
electrical display ever seen.
Inc heavens We're transformed into
prllllant, electrical dazzle and for nearly
an hour the lightning was so intense and
frequent that one could have read a news
paper without trouble. When the light
ming ceased the wind rose and blew creat
guns for half an hour.
From Bed to Bfllovs
The little boy had been put to bed on
board the William Washington, and the
three men were watching the storm Mr..
Burlingame attempted to go on deck but
the wind was so severe he could not stand.
and was forced into the cabin. Suddenly,
without warning, the boat was blown over
on her side. The men piled out of the
cabin, the little boy with them They were
all thrown into the water by the force of
the wind, and Mr.. Burlingame swan to
where his SON was struggling. Reaching
MIN he placed the little fellow on the high
side OF the capsiZed boat, and then swan
off to the yawl boat, in the hopes of cutting
her loose from the davits. After consider
able trouble. he succeeded, and rightine
her. rowed off to where the men were sit
ting on the high side of the boat When he
reached them, the child was nowhere to be
seen. The men said they had not noticed
him. 1t was then too dark to see a yard in
advance, and the rain was coming down in
torrents, and the broken-hearted father was
obliged to pull away into the night They
rowed nearly all night, and We're finally
picked up by a schooner. They stayed
aboard of her until morning, and embarked
for Indian Head, from where the harbor
master was telephoned.
yigflnnt Ordered to Scene.
diction, and he could not respond without
orders from the Commissioners. A reporter
of The Star was nearby, and volunteered to
telephone Commissioner Ross. The re-
Spouse came back that the police boat had
been ordered to the scene. The Vigilant ar
rived Tuesday night and tied up at Chicka-
mucksent. At daybreak, the crew, now
augmented by Mr.. Burlingame and several
of his friends, set to work, with the result
stated above.
scene of the drowning, was struck by light
ming Monday night, and his eight-year-old
daughter killed outright. Every one in the
house was stunned.