The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-05
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT
DEATH INTERRUPTS THE JOYS OF
WELCOME HOME
Thf Mornfng-Helpless and Ex-
hausted the Husband and Father
CIlngs for Life to an Upturned Boat
AgonIzed by the ~scene-story of the
Casualty


Early this morning Cape e river,
near the foot OF Red Cross street, was
the scene of a tragedy appalling IN ma
ture and terrible in consequence. a
crippled and father, cIlnglng
with one arm to an upturned boat sees
his wife and daughter drown; couto
anything be more horrible to contem-
plate?
THE tragedy occurred about 2:2O
O'Clock this morning, and the victims
vrere Mrs. NJ. T. Davis and Miss Bessie
Gilbert, wife and stepdaughter, respec-
lively. of M. II. Davis, night Waterman
at the naval stores yard of Messrs. Hall
r. Pearsa1l at Point Peter, and what
adds intense sadness to the tragedy Is
that at the time of the accident Mrs.
Davis and daughter had just returned
from a trip and had come to greet the
old gentleman. The two ladies Tor
some little time past had been visiting
friends at Chadbourn, and about mid
night arrived back to the city on the
evening freight of the Wilmington, Co
lumbia ard Augusta railroad. Upon
getting off the train they went down
on the wharf, just in the rear OF one OF
the Atlanti Coast Line warehouses, to
greet Mr.. Davis The river at this
point is very narrow and they had no
trouble in signalling to him, as
they had often lone before. Mr.. Da-
Wis. upon seeing them on the wharf, got
into his skiff, and although only pos
sessed of one arm, padded across the
river, and was soon on the Wharf be
side them, welcoming them back. The
two ladies the proposed that they ac-
M naNyiq' hack arrnCC the
river and pay him a visit, as they had
often done. Mr.. Davis, joyed over
their return, eagerly consented and al
ter helping his wife to gain a seat in
the .skiff, turned to assist his daugh-
ter, but as the young lady stepped into
the BOAT it lurched and capsized, throw
ing all three into the water. The Ia
dies chung tight to Mr.. Davis, who man
aged to catch hold of the boat with
his one hand and keep all three afloat
and shout for helf. OF course, at this
hour the wharf was deserted, and it
was some time before help arrived, and
then ito late to save the lives of the
wife and daughter. For fully ten min
utes MI. Davis chung to the up-turneG
boat, with his wife and daughter hold
ing ITO him; then the strain proved
too great and the wife and daughter
sank beneath the water, and Mr.. Da-
Wis was about to sink when two sail
ors, First Mate Loosen and Second
Mate FOLSOM, of the Norwegian bark
Argus, anchored at the compress
wharf, about half a block away from
the scene, reached n rescued him. 1t
was a brave act of brave men, as
suddenly awakened from a sound slum-
Der by the cry of distress of a human
voice, they stopped not to question why,
but plunged into unfamiliar waters
darkened by the shades of night, and
swan at least half a block and rescued
Mr.. Davis.
The cries of distress were also heard
by the watchmen on duty at the ware
houses, Messrs. T.. O. Price and H. J..
Harriss, and the latter went promptly
to the scene, out arrived too late to
render assistance. At the time Mr..
George Grant, delivery clerk of the
Coast Line, was also at the warehouse,
and he hurried to the scene as prompt
1y as possible, but as he was quite a
long distance off he did net arrive in
time.
When Mr.. Davis was taken out Of
the water and placed safely on shore
he was in a most pitiable condition,
just passed through and distracted
with grief. Mr.. Grant acted wisely and
with dispatch in the matter. He sent
Mr.. Davis home, accompanied by one
of the watchmen, Mr.. Price, and then
notified the proper authorities. Police
Captain John Furlong and DR.. R. ].
Price, the coroner, were both sent for
and promptly responded, and the for
mer at once took steps to notify Mr..
Davis relatives.
Mr.. Davis has quite a number of
daughters in this city, all married.
, They are Mrs. Eli Chadwick, Mrs. Ed
! gar Mintz, Mrs. David Jamerson,
e Mrs. Liza Rich and Mrs. Thomas Gill
!, lican, but all are children of his first
wife, the lady drowned being his Sec
i pnd wife.
% ,Dodies this morning.