Bridgeton pioneer., 1902-08-28

terance he released his grip upon the
boat and with the two girls and Peter
Degan sank beneath the waters, and
were swept down with the current.
Girard Degan Immediately allowed
the boat to drift back to catch the
parties when they came up, but Frank
Fralinger was the only one who came
up, and he was seized and held to the
boat until rescue came. Edward had
held on to the craft. Both Frank and
Edward were nearly unconscious when
pulled ashore, and for few moments
it was feared that Frank would not
recover.
Miss Chrissie was upon the bridge
and was an eye witness to all that
transplred and she never will forget
the agonizing look that was upon the
face OF Miss Nellie as she was swept
down under the cruel waters, know
ing she was lost.
1t was seven o'clock, Wednesday
night, before the bodies were found
by those who had been graphing.
The two girls and the young man
were side by side and were brought
up together. They had been in the
water nearly eight hours.
When word was brought to this city
it was deemed best not to allow Mrs.
Frallnger know Miss Nellie was one
of the victims, and in this way the
report was given out that the unfortu-
nate. victims were Bertha and
Chrissie.
Mr.. Florence Fralinger was spend
ing the day down the Bay Wednesday,
and a messenger was despatched after
him. He was intercepted at the
mouth of the river and hurriedly
brought home, arriving here about
five O'Clock. 1t was then that the ag-
onized mother learned that Miss Mel
lie was drowned. Her condition was
pitiable. Dazed, she would call for
her missing girls, bringing tears to
the eyes of sympathetic neighbors
who were in the house of mourning.
When Miss Chrissie arrived home
there was most affecting scene.
It was about nine O'Clock when
Pierce & CARL brought the bodies OF
the three victims here. They were
taken directly to the establishment of
the firm. About the building at the
time was a crowd Of fully one thou
sand curious persons, and four police
officers had all they could do in keep
ing a space cleared that the bodies
might be taken from the wagon.
Later the bodies of the Fralinger girls
were taken to the saddened home on
North Pearl street. When Miss Mel
lie left home in the morning she
laughingly bade her mother good bye
and said that she really did not want
to go, that she would much rather
stay home with her mother. The trip
had been anticipated for some time,
and the date was fixed so that it
might occur during Miss Mellie's va
cation. She did not want to disap-
point her sisters, and thus joined the
party. She was to return to her
duties at Hunt Brothers next week.
Another pathetic incident was the
farewell to her fatherW ednesday morn
ing by Miss Nellie when he left to 90
down the Bay. With her arms about
his neck she told him how glad she
was he was to take day off.
He had worked hard, and she was
anxious for him to enjoy days out
ing, and she was particularly anxious
that he should take good care of him
self.
The Fralinger family was remark
able. The eight daughters were all
lovable and at all times were together
in one circle.
The awful calamity caused great
gloom in the community. The family
is well known and everyone had the
greatest respect and admiration for
the girls, and deepest sympathy is ex-
tended to the bereaved members of
the broken family circle.