The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-06-27

Late on Monday afternoon. report
reached Elkton, that Mr.. Boulden Biddle
Dunbar known familiarly among his
friends as "B" Dunbar. Il respected and
popular citizen of the town. had been
accidentally drowned in Elk River
The report created profound senSa-
tion.
Like all unwclcomr news. many per
sons were incrc,luuuS. and doubted it,,
being lonth to believe that. 50 tragic an
end. had so suddenly overtakcn Il citizen
of the town. whom earlier in the day
they had seen on its streets. and with
whose face they were daily, almost hour
ly familiar
The hurried movement of his personal
friends however, and isolated groups of
men wearing sorrow stricken faces. gave
reluctant credcncr tO the report and
which the early arrival of James Marcus
one of his companions in misfortune,
quickly confirmed.
While an attentive business man. Mr..
Dunbar next to his fondncSS for II good
horse, found great pleasure in boating
and sailing. He was one Of the manag-
ing owners of the yacht SPRAY" the
property of the Elkton Yacht Club, and
whenever his business allowed, made
frequent afternoon excursions on her.
On Monday, about | o'clock. p. m. Mr..
Dunbar accompanied by w. Arthur
Mitchell. DIR. IL. c. Wells. j. $. Byrrs.
Frank Hurn. James Marcus and james
Coppage left the bridge at Elkton in Mr..
ByerS gasoline launch. having in tow
flat bottomed boat or batteau. which they
purposed using i'll planting channel
stakes or buoyS on the river. opposite
Little Welsh Point. Nothing unusual oc
Cured on their trip down. y short dist
ance this side Little Welsh Messrs.
Dunbar. Mitchell, Hum and Marcus,
boarded the hattcau. and went ashory on
the Back Creek side of the river. to pro-
cure fish net stakes and cedar brush.
Meanwhile the launch lay To. and on the
return of the hattcHu with the stakes
and brush piled in her bow. they took her
again in tow. dropping her further down
the river. opposite Little Welsh Point,
MesSrs. RyerS. Wells and Coppngc run
ming on down To Big Welsh Point. Be
fore parting company. il was understood.
that after stalking the channel. the launch
would pick them up for the return tow
to ElktOn.
is pointed and driven with II Slcdgc
hammer. and attaching with Il wire the
cedar brush. the party in the battcau,
pulled across the river to Stanley'S shore
for water. They then rowed out to the
west edge of the channel. ana planting
the second channel stake. headed the bat
trau up the river for Bcdwe!IS bar,
which they also intended to mark with IL
Il, "a,
wearing ON. and with Mr. Mitchell at the
oars. Mr.. Dunbar in the bow. and Ilurn
and Marcus in the stern of the boat the
returning launch overlook them before
reaching Bcdwcll's. The wind was
breezy from the southeast. with il mod
crate sea on. The launch under power,
didn't steer Il COurS" up the river. and
then rounding. come to on the lraWHrd Of
the battrau, giving it the opportunity to
drift up to her. and he picked up with
safety. but headed for the yacht. run
ming alongside on her windward side
She came MP close.
Mr.. Dunbar standing erect in the bow
of the battcau. threw II line. which Strk-
ing the roof of the house of the launch.
was not caught by Mr. BycrS. The
yacht shot ahead Il short distance. and
rounding partly. headed again for the
batteau. Mr.. Mitchell seeing that he
was directly in the course of the launch.
backed water to keep out of her way.
but the launch was too close on. and
striking the battcau II slanting blow
which but for Mr.. Mitchrll'S effort to get
ont of her way would have been n head
on hlow-Shot ahead again about forty
yards. when she came to Il full stop.
When the launch struck the batteau,
Mr.. Marcus. who is an active man and
an expert swimmer, graSpcd her rail,
and leapcd aboard her. Mr.. Dunbar
standing erect, was thrown overheard by
the impact of the two boats. falling near
the bow of the hattrau ON her Wiudward
side. and clear outside of the launch,
which in shooting ahead, passed between
him and the hatttHu. one oar of the
latter. that on the windwar1 side. being
cut adrft by the collision. Instantly. the
batteau drifting towards the Elk Neck
shore. the distance between it and Mr..
Dunbar began to widen. With one oar
gone the batteau was helpless to save the
drowning man. All MeSSrS. Mitchell
and Hum could do was to throw him
poles They didn't reach him. The
yacht. its engine becoming unmanageabr
either to move forward or backward WAS
equally helpless. Marcus desperately.
seized IL pole. in the vain endcavor to
pole the yacht to Mr. Dunbar'S rescue,
but he couldn't touch the bottom. and the
fatal distance between him and both
boats still widening. until the struggling
man sank out of sight.
In the meantime. the batteau driftcd
rnniIly hnfnrn thn wind tnunrls tha ELL.