Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-12-02
The Drowning of Mr.. Slaymaker'

The Drowning OF Mr. SlaymSkeI'
The announcement in yesterdays
Gaz cite of the drowning of Rev. ID. Z.
Slaymaker, young, well-known and
deservedly popular Alexandriau, cast
decided gloom over the larger portion
of the community. The details of the
sad occurrence are still lacking, al
though it is known that twenty-three
other persons lost their lives by the ac-
cident. These unfortunates are sup
posed to have been natives. Revs. l..
G. Vass and Motto Martin, both Presby-
terrain missionaries, were aboard the
Inflated boat, and they seem to have
been the only persons who were saved.
The missionaries and natives had
boarded the mission raft Samuel n.
Lapsley and were on their way down
the Congo when the boat upset. The
mishap occurred between Leopoldville
and Luebo. The Congo is one of the
worlds largest rivers and runs for hum
dreds of miles through jungles and dense
forests. Those on boat overturned In
this large stream in the midst of wilder
ness would stand little chance of rescue,
and the wonder is not that so many were
drowned but that anyone escaped.
Rev. L. G. Vass is in charge OF the
mission to which he was conveying his
new assistants, Messrs. Martin and Stay
maker. This is one of the leading
African missions of the Southern Presby-
terrain Church and the people of the
Virginias and Carolinas have shown es-
pecial interest in this field. The minis
tiers engaged in the work were mostly
from these States.
Some years ago when the mission was
greatly in need Of some better means OF
transportation on the Congo funds were
raised by special contribution and
emission raft built on the new lines tor
such craft. The raft was built at the
works of the William r. Trigg Ship
building Company, in Richmond, and
was on the order of modern house
boat It was shallow, so as to meet the
conditions in the river on which 1t was
to be used, but was fitted up with every
convenience Of an up-to-date steamship.
This unique craft was, christened the
Samuel n. Lapsley, bearing the name
of a man who devoted his life to mission
work in Africa and other parts OF the
foreign field. The Lapsley was launched
about two years ago, then was taken
apart and shipped to Africa in sections.
Upon its arrival the boat was put TO-
gether and placed in immediate service.
The first news of the disaster that
reached this city was through DR.. ). ID.
Chester, of Nashville, Tenn, who IS
leader in southern mission work. Ut.
Chester Yesterday afternoon received
cablegram from Africa telling OF the
tragedy.
Mr.. Slaymaker was a sou OF Mrs.
Mamie ard the late H. G. Slaymaker,
was about twenty-eight years of age, and
until shortly before his departure for the
African mission fields had been a book
keeper for the wholesale drug firm OF h.
< Leadbeater & Sons. Recently MIR.
Slaymaker determined to become mis-
sionary. and after pursuing his studies
at his home in this city, he went to
Nashville, Tenn, last spring and passed
an excellent examination. Soon after
that he was ordained and assigned to the
Congo station. He left this city about
the ist of August in company with Rev.
Motto Martin, another Presbyterian mis-
sionary. -,
1t Is thought that the accident oc
cvrred about month ago from the fac
that letters we're received from the late
Mr.. Slaymaker dated October 10, a
which time he was making preparations
for embarking for his mission field.