The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-16

.Jonn H. Gore, j. q prominent young
attorney of this city and his bortnel-
in-law. Mt. VIM. Brewer, We're botn
drowned on Saturday night at a point
on the. Cape Tea river about six miles
below this city and just below the
mouth of Brunswick river. The young
men had been on q duck hunting expo
ditiOn and were preparing to return 70
the city when they met their tragic end.
10Th bodies were found on yesterday
morning.
This community was shocked on Sun
day morning h a report became :ur-
rent that Mr.. Gore and Mr.. Brewer had
been drowned. Mr.. Gore was one of the
best known men in Wilmington and
this naturally caused the public to feel
a deeper interest in the unfortunate at
fair. When The report was first c1rcu-
lated it was not generally believed as
reports are so easily started upon the
least pretext but as the facts became
more fully known the public knew the
reports were true and that never again
would they see the face OF John Gore
except in death.
4 sadder affair perhaps never occurr-
ed in his community. To all
of the relatives Of the two unfortunate
men the blow is an awful one and doub-
ly 20 to Mrs. Jonn H. Gore, who loses
her husband and her brother. Young
Brewer was his parents only son, as was
Mr.. Gore.
ON HUNTING EXPEDITION.
On saturday afternoon a party con-
sisting of John H. Gore, Jr., William
Brewer, George Harriss and j. w.
Sneeden decided 10 go down the river
duck hunting. They secured the nap
thu iaunc Mermaid" Captain A. G.
Hall. and proceeded to Mallory's creek.
something over a mile and a half above
the ,reek jetties extend out in the
river and the launch was tied up at the
end of the ~jettieS. The hunting party
got into two small boats they had
brought along for the purpose, two TeE
being in each boat. They made Tor
Mallory's creek and hunted as long as
they could see how to shoot. They had
agreed to meet AMI return to the launch
at the blowing of a fog horn.
Mr.. George Harriss related to a rep
~resentative of The Messenger his ex-
perience in connection with dreadIul
affair. He said Just about dark he heard
the fog horn and he and Mr.. Sneeden,
Who were hunting together Proceeded
to their small boat. When they reach
ed the mouth of the creek Mr.. Gore and
Mr.. Brewer were about fifty yards
ahead Of them. When they reached the
river Mr.. Harriss said they W along
DaraIlel for a short distance, and al
though it was then too dark to sec
each other, they carried on a CONVEX
sation. Gradually the boats got fur
Their apart, Mr.. Harriss hugging The
shore, on account of the strong win
Tr-bioI, Ix-a q blowing from the northwest
and the ave running high. but
Mr.. Gore headed his boat direct from
the mouth of Mallory's creek to the end
of the ietties where the launch was sta
toned. This caused the wind Ii
waves to hit his boat b~roadside.
Only a few minutes after they p
rated Mr.. Harriss heard the fog
horn. There was a slight pause
and then another signal. Mr.. Harriss
at once realized that Mr.. Gore aui
Mr.. Brewer must be in trouble and the
boat was headed in the direction of the
Sound When about $50 yards from
the shore Mr.. Harriss and Mr.. Sneeden
came to their friends. both of whom
were standing in water nearly waist
deep beside of their boat which had
been capSiZed. Clinging on to the edge
of the boat by Mr.. Gore was his dog.
Mr.. Harriss rowed alongside of the
capsized O n Mr.. Gore and Mr..
Brewer rested one mana on the zap
sized boat and one on that occupied
by Mr.. HarTiSS as they talked quickly
of what course to pursue. Both boats
were what are known as "ducking
boats. and are used by hunters to go up
the small creeks in the rice fields.
They are really for one man. Neither
of the boats at the wtdeSt par was two
feet and the hollow of the boat was
not more than six feet long. Mr.. Gore
knew that the boat that Mr.. HarriSs
was in was taxed to it's fun capacity
and that if four men attempted to get
in it all of them would be thrown into
the river. Realizing this fact Mr..
Gore bade his friends go after the
launch and come to their aid.
MI. HarrisS and Sneeden. as soon as
they decided to go after the launch.
headed their boat up the river in the
direction of the launch. which, a the
way they had to 60, about a mile and
q half from them. The river was so
rough they ley it would be impoSSi-
bic TO go straight to the launch, SD
thew turned in towards the shore until
they reached the jetties and then Went
on the lee of the jetties to the launch.
The engine was quickly started and
the launch run full speed down the
river until Mr.. HarriSS thought they
were about even with the point whera
they a left Mr.. Gore and his friend.
The launch was stopped and those on
board gave several calls which We're
answered by Mr.. Gore. The aunch was
then headed toward the shore blu when