The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-07

1GSlSIudy dUOuL AOOHS at AAiAlOA .
pond, eight miles northwest of this city,
three boys, sons of prominent tizens of
were drowned They were:
MIAL WILLIAMSON, age 10, son
of Capt. B. p. Williamson, treasurer of
this county, were drowned. They were:
EDWIN LEE, age II, only son of
Mr.. Clee r. Lee, a prominent leaf tohGc-
co dealer.
JAMES HINTON, age Is only son OF
Mr.. Charles Hinton, formerly executive
clerk of Governor Carr.
The boys were school-mates and de-
voted friends. They had planned to
spend the day hunting on Mr.. Hinton's
farm, but they never fired gun.
They had gone only "a mile and a half
from the Hinton residence before they
came TO a pond, known as Hinton
pond" and maintained by several gentle
men in this city for fishing purposes.
This being frozen over they placed
their guns ON the bank and went out OH
the ice. But they had not gone far be-
fore it broke and all three went under
together
-Four hours later they were found, fro
zen and lifeless. under the ice. Mial
Williamson and Edwin Lee, such devoted
friends in life, We're lying almost side
by side on the bottom in water about
six feet deep Some ten feet away, in
water about two feet deep. and cicse to
the bank, was James Hinton, ;ioat;ng
near the top.
He was the first recovered. by man
70 no haO 4.,x
ice. a boat and graphing hooks had
to be used to secure the bodies of Mial
Williamson and Edwin Lee.
When the bodies We're taken from the
water all possible efforts were made 10
restore respiration, but in vain. DIR. II.
II. Marshburn was sent for and arrived
about o'clock. He was of opinion that
the boys had been dead about six hours.
1t was o'clock before the news
reached here. Immediately quite num-
Der of Raleigh representatives and
friends of the stricken families went out
to the scene of the accident
They did not return until near mid
night bringing with them the dead
bodies of Mial Williamson and Edwin
Lee. James Hinton having been taken
to his own home. near the pond in which
they were drowned.
The Dead Brought Home.
The first news of the tragedy was
brought here by man who works on
Mr. Hinton's farm. He was very mucA
excited and could give no really intellgi-
BILE account of how it all happened. On
his way heIe he met Mr.. Hinton, who
had been in this city during the day.
and told him the terrible news. The
next TO hear it was Mr. Lee and then
Capt. Williamson.
The news now spread rapidly over the
city, casting upon all deep gloom of
sorrow. 1t tame with such sudden
ness, such terrible force that it was
hard to realize its truth. The shock to
ME Lee was 20 great that a physician
had to be callel in. Capt. Williamson,
stronger and # less nervous tempera-
ment, stood it bravely and started at
once to the seem of the drowning to help
recover the bodies. Others joined him,
and still others Ollowed-hands anxious
to help and hears beating in sympathy.
But long ere hey reached the spot
the bodies had ben taken from the wa
ter by the people Of the community. |
aud all that huma power could do had |
been done.
Into the stricken homes here the peo-
pie went-hundre0 of them-to offer |
sympathy and assistance, and to speak |
words of consolatio. The city was lit |
orally in mourning.
Nothing else wa discussed on the |
streets, and the rturn of those who |
had gone for the cad was anxiously /
awaited.
On arrival here tn bodies were taken |
first TO Undertaken Browns establish |
ment and then sent their homes.
How it Hopened.
From the best information that could /
be gathered from th:e who went ont
from here, the particurs of the tragedy |
are these:
Mal Williamson N Edwin Lee loft |
here yesterday morniy at O'Clock. IN
spend the day i'll th,country. hunting
with James Hinton. hey We're driving
Mr.. Lees horse and nd in the buggy !
their dogs and guns They arrived at |
the Hinton place abo 10 O'Clock and
found James Hinton rafting them. An
hour later they started 1t hunting. going
in the direction of hpond. That is
the last time they werever seen alive.
Mrs. Hinton eXpecte'them TO return
for dinner and aecordiry prepared the |
meal for them. But thtdid not return.