The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-08
ICE WAS BRITTLE.
Charles F. Murphy
Drowned in Fort
Meadow Pond.
SEARCH FOR BODY.
Victim Was City Inspector
of Water Meters and Was
Very Popular.

Marlboro, April While crossing
Fort Meadow pond, last night, Charles
F. Murphy, inspector of water metres,
broke through the ice and was drowned.
His body was recovered this after
noon by George A. Stally, superintend-
ent of the water department, and re-
moved to the city morgue and later
carried to the home of his wife, on
Lincoln street.
1t has been a long time since the
community has been called upon to
mourn the loss Of a young man who
was so highly esteemed by all classes,
and his death has caused a feeling of
sorrow to pervade the city. The cir
cumstances surrounding the accident
are not known to a certainty. Mr.. Muir
ply left his home, 81 Lincoln street,
about 100 o'clock last night, telling
his wife that he was going out on a
hunt Mrs. Murphy was not alarmed
at this, as it was a usual custom. The
last she saw of her husband he was
leaving the house, accompanied by his
dog.
Whenever he went on a trip of this
nature he invariably returned at 10
o'clock. When that hour came and an
other passed by, Mrs. Murphy became
anxious.
Hour after hour went by and still
the husband did not appear. Mrs
Murphy anxiety turned to fear. This
was confirmed about 5 O'Clock in the
morning, when looking out the window
in hopes of seeing some signs of her
husband, she saw his dog in the yard.
Several neighbOrs We're consulted, but
none knew anything concerning the
Whereabouts of the missing man. City
Marshal Pope and superintendent
Stally of the water department We're
notified. 1t was known that Mr.. Muir
ply frequently hunted foxes, and
search was made in localities where he
has been known to have enjoyed this
sport in the past. No trace of the
missing man could be found, however,
ana at TO o'clock Mayor Plunkett or
dered the fire alarm to be sounded in
order that the firemen could join in the
search.
The fire department responded at the
city hall. Two barge loads of firemen
We're sent out in different directions.
Chief Engineer Fay mad charge of
one detachment. which went out to
Hosmer street, and searched that sec
ton of the outskirts of the city. The
other party was in charge of City
cemetery and commenced to look over
the ground east and north of that
place, In the meantime several friends
among them superintendent Stacy,
were searching the woods on the east
side of Fort meadow. A young boy,
John Meagher by name. saw a hat on
the ice about 100 yards from the High
land Club cottage. After much diff
Guilty several of the party approached
the hat and We're startled to find the
initials &c. F. M on the inside. Mr..
Stacy recognized the hat as belonging
to MI Murphy. A little later an over
coat owned by the missing man was
also found on the ice Nearby was
found a hole in the ice.
Leading to this Wee the tracks of a
man and dog. Mayor Punkett, upon
being informed of the facts, ordered
the fire alarm to be sounded for the
recall of the firemen. In the afternoon
steps We're at once taken for the re-
covery of the body This was very
DIFFICULT work, as the ice was of
honeycomb nature and very treacher-
Gus. Planks were laid for quite d dis
lance on the ice. From this Superin-
tendena Stacy cut d channel towards
the hole where the body was supposed
to be. channel was at length cut. A
boat was launched, containing Mr..
Stacy and helper. Mr.. Stacy at once
went to work with graphing irons, and
in a few moments succeeded in iOcat-
ing the body of the missing man, and
in a short time had drawn it onto the
ice The body was taken in charge by
Undertaken T. H. Brown and conveyed
to the city morgue. Medical Examiner
Hoitt being away from town, Medical
Examiner Adams of South Framing
ham was notified. DR.. Adams at once
came to this city, and after viewing
the body decided that the deceased
came to his death by drowning. The
body was then removed to Mr.. Muir
phys home on Lincoln street
MI Murphy was IS years old and
leaves a wife and two children, one of
whom is years old and the other an
infant of three weeks. He has been in
the employ of the city for four years
He was a member of Court Marlboro,
Foresters of America.
Edward s. Murphy and John J.
Mitchell are writing q history of the
Marlboro strike, which will be issued
soon after a settlement is made be-
tween the manufacturers and their
striking employees. Mr. Murphy has
represented The Spy in Marlboro dur
ing the existence of the present labor
trouble. while Mr. Mitchell has acted
in a similar capacity for the Boston
Globe.