Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1898-04-21
WHOLE NO. 26OI
DROWNED IN A RIVER.
"e'rse AIKEN his Companion, Attempts
to Save Him but Grabs Hi. hat and
Then Faints,

10 save Him but Grabs His hat and
Then Faints.
Somewhere in the waters of the Co.
hansey river or Delaware Bav. the tida
waters are carrying to and fro the lifeless
body OF Daniel Gaskill, a young OYSTER
man, thirty years of age. Over in Mill
Vile there is widowed mother. grief
stricken with the los of her bow. and
praying that the poor, body may be re-
turned to her, and receive at least a
Christian burial.
Inc story Of the drowning is best told
as related by Mortimer Hughes, of Mill
vile, captain of the sloop "May fiower.n
from which Gaskill halls.
Capt. Hughes said to a PIONEER re-
porter that he had been working in the
Bay all this month. Friday his sloop
was working off Sea Breeze. His crew
consisted of George Aiken and Daniel
Gaskill, both of Millvile.
About noon Friday, a squall came
up, and it was discovered that the boat
needed water and wood, and Captain
Hughes ran his vessel into the Cohansev.
and proceeded to Buena Vista, after sup
plies. On the way up the river tho boat
passed James Dilks, who was fishing
from cat boat. The boys asked him for
mess of fish, and Dilks replied that he
would have some for them. 1t was
about four O'Clock when the boat reached
Buena Vista. Securing supplies Captain
Hughes turned to go down the river.
The MAY ayfiower" anchored in the
third reach OF the river, and Aiken and
GaskiIl asked Capt. Hughes if they
could take the yawl and go back after the
hsh. 1t was then about seven o'clock in
the evening. Captain Hughes told the
boys % hurry back, and they would have
game of cards.
When Aiken and Gaskill left, they were
both happy, and pulled quickly off.
The Captain waited some time for
them to return, but they did not come
back, and Hughes threw pillow upon a
locker and soon fell asleep.
| 1t was between ten and eleven o'clock
| when Captain Hughes was awakened by
! somebody calling him. He said:
who's there?'
I'VE are the crew of the David Davis,u
came the reply.
whats the matter, have you lost YOUR
boat?' asked the captain.
No." quickly came back the reply,
'sbot you have lost one of your men"
! That brought Captain Hughes from the
cabin. and he made many more in
quiries, quickly and somewhat excitedly.
The men told the captain that fellow
named Dan was drowned, and the other
fellow, George, was on their sloop, in a
| faint.
Capt. Hughes promptly jumped into
the yawl Of the visitors and was pulled
over to the Daniel Davis" where he
found George Akin in the cabin. He
was just recovering from a faint, and in
his hand was grasped Daniel GaskilPs
hat
When Aiken had fully recov cred, he
told the story of Gaskirs drowning. He
said that after they had gone back to
Dilks' cat boat and secured the fish, tney
started for the "Mayfiower." They could
not locate the boat and stopped on board
the Daniel Davis" to learn where the
! "Mayflower" was living,
Aiken finally jumped into the yawI
and Gaskill threw off the painter. In
attempting to jump from the "Davis" to
the yawl. GaskiI must have slipped, for
he pitched headlong into the black waters
of the river.
Aiken made grab to rescue the un-
fortunate fellow, but succeeded only in
getting his hat. Aiken cried ont "Oh.
my God, Dan is drowned" and tainted
away.
The crew of the Davis" hurriedly
carried Aiken to their cabin and went off
to notify Hughes.
All day yesterday. Captain Hughes re-
mained in the vicinity of the accident to
recover the body, but was unsuccessful
Yesterday afternoon he came up to
Bridgeton and from here went to Mill
vile. to notify Gaskilrs poor old mother.
Capt. Hughes was much affected while
telling the story, and said that Ga,kill
was splendid fellow. He declared the
drowning must have been an accident for
Aiken and Gaskill were the best of
friends, and there was no quarrelling
with the crew of the Davis" GaskiIl
had not been drinking