The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-06-18
MANY SAW
BOY DROWN
Daniel Black Made Unsuccessful
Effort to Save Him.
BODY QUICKLY RECOVERED
Charles O'DonnelI of
20 w. Goth Street Met Death in
Brandywine River at Foot Of
Walnut Street,
BODY QUICKLY RECOVERED

A distressing accident took place III
the Brandywine creek at the foot OF
Walnut street about 40 o'clock yestel.
day afternoon, when 10-year-old Charles
O'Donnell was drowned in plain view OF
large number of persons.
The boy together with two other boys
Alien Hamilton and Harry Winklcr
went in bathing in the creek near the
lower end OF the buildings of the city
mills pumping station.
O'Donnell got ont about three feet from
shore, when he started to struggle vic.
lcnty. The tide was apparently carry
ing him further from shore. There is
an outward current formed by the over
flow from the race which the boy also
had to contend with.
Hamilton was near TO him and started
to go to his aid but became frightened
and swan TO shore, Wilklcr also came
to shore.
Meanwhile the boy continued to strug-
gle and it now became apparent TO pro-
pie on Market street bridge as well as
ON the north bank of the creek that the
hoy was really drowning.
Daniel Black, filter man at the city
mills pumping station without any hest
tation and without waiting TO remove his
clothing leapcd into the creek.
lie swan for the boy and had almost
gotten within reach OF him when he be.
came exhausted or account Of his cloth
ing becoming soaked and bearing him
,!own. He realized that he could not
save the boy aud would be compelled to
turn back. 1t was with great effort that
In, IL IL, ,,I,
safety.
The boy threw mp his hands shortly
after Black started back and sank.
Some men employed by /. S. Bullock,
tnsmth. who We're engaged in placing
Il new tin roof on the blacksmith shop
Of the city mills pumping station. re-
moved their clothing and swan about in
the creek and tried to secure the body.
\ rumbcr of persons in boats soon
made their Appearance and the search
for the body was commenced in earnest.
Word had been sent to the police sta
tion and Captain Black ami patrolman
Solomon hurried to the scene in the pa
troll wagon. They brought with them
some graphing irons. "A boat was secure,
and they went out and started to graple
for the body.
AT 445 O'Clock they found the bodyne
where the boy had been last seen.
As the body was carried ashore some
thought that the boy was still alive but
life was extinct however. 1t was taicn
To the home of the deceased, No. %
West Twentieth street.
The grandmother of the deceased. n
brother and sister who were on the creek
nnuk when the body was recovered. were
almost overcome with grief.
Tine police have done all in their power
to prevent the boys from risking their
lives by swimming in the creek and
Policeman Solomon and Mclaughlin
some days ago drove boys away from
the place where yesterdays drowning
occurred.
II is not, however. considered particl-
lnlly dangerous and 10 ,lrGwningS ha 70
occurred at this exact spot for years.
Captain Black ana the police were
compim"ntcd for their prompt action ii.
recovering the body.
The hoy who is a son Of John O'Don-
nell. who was formerly boss in the card
room at the Arlington mills but is now
confined in AN asylum.