The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-05-07

One OF the saddest events that we
have been called upon to chronicle In
ten years. experience as editor OF The
STAR, occurred short distance above
this place Saturday afternoon, May 3,
1902, when three bright boys met death
In the waters of the Sandy Lick creek.
The boys went down TO death clasped
hands. Two of them bravely met death
attempting to rescue a companion. The
names of the boys are:
Francis A. Hardman, aged Ia years.
Charles E. McEnteer, aged 13 years.
John f.. Crawley, aged 10 years.
The only witnesses to the awful affair
was two small boys, James Crawley and
James McKernan, lads about eight
years old, who were standing on the
bank and saw the boys go down. Tn,
little fellows we're very much excited
and may not be able to tell just how
the calamity occurred but the par
ticulars, as near as we can learn are
about as follows. There were eight or
nine boys in the party at first and they
had started up the creek to gather
flowers, but when they found jam OF
logs in the creek they ran over the logs
for awhile. Two Of the boys returned
home, another boy, Leo McEnteer, fell
into the creek, but he succeeded In get
ting out soaking wet and he fingered
behind the other boys and did not see
his companions fall into the water.
John Crawley fell in first and Charles
McEnteer pulled him part way out and
they both slipped of the log. Francis
Hardman was some distance away and
when they screamed for help he ran to
them and caught McEnteer by the hand
and McEnteer still held Crawley's
hand. Francis succeeded in getting
both boys part way out Of water when
| he lost his balance and all three went
down together and did not come up
again. The boys say they stood on the
bank about fifteen minutes watching
| for the three to come up before they ran
fok help. They may have stood there
1--WE minutes and it may have been a
half hour. The boys ran to tannery and
| gave the alarm. Men ran down to the
| creek, but In the excitement had neg
lected to take the little boys back to
creek with them to show where the
boys had fallen In, and the men could
not locate the place until one Of the
lads was brought from his home to creek
to show them where the boys had gone
down. A float was made and three or
four men pushed out into the stream at
one of the deepest points along the
creek. When the bodies were ,located
and a cap came up Polander, who was
on the float, became so excited that he
| jumped into the creek. He could not
swim and had TO be pulled out. All
three bodies were found close together.
McEnteer was taken out FIRST Crawley
second and Hardman last. 1t is sup
posed that it was at least an hour and a
half from time boys fell In until the
bodies were taken out. Drs. Neale and
Wheeler were present when the bodies
were rescued, but the boys were be-
yond resuscitation.
The parents of the boys live close to.
gether on Broadway street, West Rey.
noldsville. The bodies were placed In
the parlor of each home and all Sunday
afternoon and evening there was almost
a continual string OF people passing in
to look at the boys whose young lives
were so quickly ended. They were
strong, robust lads and the sudden disso
luton made them appear to be peace
fully sleeping.
All three boys were members of the
Catholic church and the funeral service
was held in the Catholic church at 9.0(
a. m. Monday. The large church wa,
too small to accommodate the congre
cation that assembled to pay their las
try u -reot to the boys.
H. was sad sight indeed to see thre,
hearses and three stricken familie