The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-02-14
Terrible Accident near Medford.

|
The town of Medford was Mortified on
Tuesday at the report that three persons
had lost their lives by drowning in the
| pond at ELEPHANTS Mill. This was found
to be too true. The victims were Shinn
o. Ballinger, his wife, Maggie, and her
sister, Lizzie Taylor. Ali lived on a
Mill to Taunton, about mile from Med
ford. Their home was about 300 yards
from the spot where they lost their lives.
The only person able to tell anything at
all definite of the occurrence was a boy
named Constant Carpenter, IL years of
age, who lived with the Ballingers. He
said he was playing with his sled in the
yard at 10 o'clock when Mrs. Ballinger
and her sister went to the pond, followed
soon after by Mr.. Ballinger. Not long
after this the boy heard cries coming from
the pond, but he did not heed them as he
supposed they were merely the exclama-
lions of persons sliding or skating. But
he soon changed his mind as he heard the
voice of Mr. Ballinger calling for help.
He quickly ran to the pond where he saw
Mr.. Ballinger struggling in the water
The women were not in sight.
The boy bravely extended his hand to
the. man, but the latter was not able to
retain the grasp. With rare presence of
mind, which the lad exhibited throughout
the entire affair, Carpenter again extended
his hand. This time Ballinger seized the
sleeve of the boys overcoat 1t was
ripped at the shoulder and soon parted
from the coat. This was all that saved
the boy from drowning. Ballinger then
said: 1.-The women are drowned and l
guess am going to. Run for help"
The boy ran to the home of Malcolm
Braddock quite a distance off, and, ell
though he was almost breathless, managed
to tell the sad news. Help was at once
sent to the pond, young Carpenter going
along to point out the spot. Another party
went to Medford, and got boat with
which they hurried to the pond. The
first party found the water was about
nine feet deep. An textbook was attached
to long pole and the first to meet with
success was John T. Wilkins who caught
the body of Mr.. Ballinger. He drew it
up until it was almost out of the water
when the ice on which Wilkins stood gave
way and he was forced to look out for
himself. The position of the body when
first discovered showed that it had gone
straight down. The bodies of the women
had floated short distance
When the boat and graphing irons ar
rived from Medford but a short time
elapsed before the bodies were all recov-
cred. What the people were doing on the
ice will never be known. The boy saws
they did not tell him anything about their
errand, and he supposed they were going
out to slide as something had been said |
to that effect a short time before But
against this is the fact that all the people |
had arctic rubbers on when the bodies |
were recovered. Another theory was that
they were on an errand or visit to the |
home of neighbor but many think that |
hardly likely as it would have been easier |
to have hitched horse and drive to the |
nearest neighbor rather than trudge over
ice and snow. Mr.. Ballinger locked the |
house when he left, and the key was found |
in his pocket. The point where they went !
through the ice was in the main channel |
and the ice was said to be but an inch |
thick. The eddies continually forming
there are supposed to have kept the ice |
from getting thick as rapidly as in other |
spots.
Mr.. Ballinger was 81 years of age. his |
wife was 80 years old and Lizzie TAYLOR |
was IA years old. Mrs. Ballinger was the |
second wife of her husband His first |
wife was a lady who been accustomed
to city life and when she moved to the
neighborhood of Medford she found it |
rather slow and lonesome. After remain |
ing some time she went back to the city |
and divorce resulted. By the first |
marriage there was a son who is now
living at Bridgeton and is the only child |
Of Mr.. Ballinger.