Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-03
MR.. ASHBY'S DEATH.
FULL ACCOUNT OF THE SAD ACCI-
DENT At COLON.
A CONFEDERATE COTILLI0N

DNnCt HI w VI hV"'e
pie from the south-PersonaI and
Postal Notes of Interest-New
Patents.
WASHINGTON, d. c., February p
Especial. AN accurate account Of the
drowning of Colonel w. w. Ashby, OF
Spotsylvania county United States Con-
sui at Colon. has at last reached here, In
newspaper report sent by Mrs. Ashby
TO Mr.. Angus McSween, OF this city, a
warm personal friend of Colonel Ashby's.
The paper-the Colon Telegram-bears
the date of January 9th. and gives the
following report Of the sad calamity:
"W. w. Ashby, Esq, American Consul
at this port; DR.. W. Hafemann, German
Consul, and d. G. Mott. Esq, master
mechanic Of the Panama Railroad Com
pany, were drowned on Sunday evening,
the 10th instant, off Point Toro light
house, while on O boating excursion.
CDR. Hafemann closed his place OF
business on Front street at l z. Nj. on
Sunday, the 10th instant, telling his as
sistants that he was going over to the
cocoanut plantation, which is situated
next to the Point Toro lighthouse, on the
opposite side of the harbor. BY ar
rangement, he was joined by Mr.. w. W.
Ashby and by Mr.. d. G. Mott. Boarding
a small boat, with a crew consisting of
two men. they started out from the Pom
ton Bique AID nothing further was heard
here of the party until o'clock on Mon
day morning, when letters were received
in town from Mr.. Stubs. manager of the
cocoanut plantation referred TO, an
nouncing the capslzing of the boat and
drowning Of the three gentlemen named.
SEEN SWIMMING.
1.-THE boat containing the party was
under sail returning TO Colon, and when
some distance off the lighthouse. being
struck by a heavy seaSSst capsized.
Shortly afterwards three of It's occupants
were seen struggling in the water, when
a wave struck them, and then but one
was visible, and shortly afterwards he
also disappeared. Francisco Bristol saved
himself by clinging to the boat, but he
Is now I'm a precarious condition, being
terribly bruised; the body of the other
was washed ashore, along with the
broken boat, DR.. Hafemann's dog, and
MIR. Ashby's coat.
"Fair weather prevailed here all day,
but the sea generally runs heavier in the
vicinity OF the place where the accident
occurred, the locality being very eX-
posed one.
con the news arriving here, boat
was promptly dispatched from the L. H.
r. steamer Alliance to the scene or the
disaster, followed by a steam-tug from
the Canal Company, but up to the time
of our writing none of the bodies have
been recovered.
"a representative of this paper inter-
viewed. on the goth instant, Francisco
Bristol. the captain Of the boat TO when
the accident occurred, and his statement
confirms the report published by the
Telegram on Wednesday last.
"Bristol is now an inmate OF the Colon
Hospital, recovering from the effects OF
injuries received on the sad occasion.
"On being questioned, he made the fol-
lowing statement:
STATEMENT OF SURVIVOR.
"About 2 o'clock last Sunday afternoon,
Tinted States Consul Ashby, the German
Consul. Dr. Hafemann; Mr.. ID. q. Mott,
master mechanic of the Panama Railroad
COMPANY: g lad, Reginald Anaga, and
myself. left Ponton Bique, in Mr.. Motifs
boat, and proceeded to his plantation at
Otro LadO, next to Point Toro Light
house. We started to return TO Colon
at about $50 that evening, the boat belng
under sail. The breeze was not unusually
strong. although a heavy sea was run
ming. but it was nothing extraordinary.
We had gone out to sea about quarter
of q mile when a heavy wave struck the
boat, breaking away the mast ana sans
and capsizing the craft. At the moment
of the accident the three gentlemen were
seated in the hold chatting and Laughing
and l was on deck steering. AS soon as
the boat turned over the five OF US got
astride the keel, and the boat commenced
drifting towards the shore. When near
IN where the waves were breaking, at
rock called Bajo Nuevo, the three gentle
men Jumped into the sea for the purpose
of swimming ashore, but they took a
wrong direction and a heavy sea striking
them, l never saw them again. Inc lad
Anaga and myself remained clinglng TO
the keel, and a few moments afterwards
l and the boat were flung onto the rocks
where / remained for some time senseless'
The body of Anaga was discovered near
me much mutilated.
There being many caves about the
rocks is. / think, the reason why none
of the bodies have been found, as they
may have drifted into one OF them.
Several searching parties have gone
over to the scene of the accident, but up
to the time of our writing. on Thursday
afternoon. no trace whatever has been
found of the bodies of the three gentle
men who were drowned. 1t is supposed
that the strong current running at pres
ent has carried them out TO sea.
GRIEF THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.
"Flags are flying at half-mast at the
government offices, all the consulates,
on the shipping, the Panama railroad
offices and at several residences, and all
about the city are evidences Of GRIEF at
the sad accident, and heartfelt sympathy
for the. three widows and families VINO
have been so suddenly and terribly De- |
reaved. and who are overwhelmed with |
grief at their sad anliction. His Honor, |
Project Meendez; Colonel j. X. Smaller
and Messrs. j. S. Gilbert, r. G. ward, |
and r. II. Wardlaw took an active part |
in endeavoring TO recover the podles, |
while the afflicted families were visited |
by numerous friends, who rendered their |
sympathies and condolences.
"As a mark of respect, all places OF
business in the town closed on MONDAY, |
on receipt Of the sad news.
"a suitable reward has been offered for
the recovery of the bodies. but although |
constant watch has been kept, no trace