The Washington times., 1905-06-05
DROWNED CHUMS
BURIED TOGETHER
Funeral Tomorrow for Fill
tration Pond Victims.
RAFT SANK BENEATH WATER
Bodies Recovered Within Half Hour.
Efforts at Rosuscitation
Unavailing.

United il death as in dying. little
Lawrence owen, OF 52a r street north
west, and Jettte Darlington. of 1909
Fifth street northwest, both eleven
years ol, VIII be buried IN at Ohvet
CeIneterysteTaCFrcw morning.
Twelve playmates living in the vicfn-
it, in which The lads parents conducted
a sgrscery store, VIII bear the white
easkets 10 the burying grounds. Several
hundred children, It is expected, will be
present at the services held over the
final resting place ef the little fellows
who came to so tragic and untimely an
end yesterday aftern Don.
While the boys were cut fer walk
with Willie Williams. six years old, yes
teraay afternoon about 3. so o clock. they
came upon a pond of muddy water near
North Capitol and Detroit streets north
west. They. could not resist the tempta-
tion 10 build raft out of lumber found
around the filtration plant and take u
sail.
Drown in the Pond.
A few seconds after they had embark
ed upon their frail craft they fell off
and were swallowed up before the eyes
CT their dininutiYe companion, who
stood ca the edge of the pond crying as
though his heart would break because
he vas not permitted to ride on the raft
The bodies were recovered half an
hour afterward. Every effort was made
to resuseitate them. The attempts
proved futile
After Sunday school yesterday morn
irg the lads played in their yards until
it was suggested that they go out North
Capitol street for a walk. The Owen
boy and Jettfe had been bosom friends
SINCE they were able 10 walk Their
ialhers came TO this city several years
ago from Charles county, Md, and
started q grocery store.
The youngsters did not know the way
20 the nltFatIon- plant Novelty made
me trip all the more interesting. With
WINE N1lllaIns, who lives in the Vi
eintty of Fifth street and Rhode Island
avenue northwest, the boys set out for
their deStina ton
Recent heavy rains and the drainage
from the trough where the gravel used
at the Ultra ton plant is washed have
I@ofmed 10 a large pond covering an area
OF ABOUT thirty feet. and about ten
foet deep near the center near the west
side OF Gienwood Cemetery. and directly
Opposite the unco1npieted plant.
Find the Pond
By the time the boys had trudged out
thus far they were tired ard wanted
rest. They found many things to in
terest them at the filtration plant, and
then walked across North Capitol street
10 see the carts loaded with nnoistened
gravel They saw the pond and several
boxes and boards lying on the edge
of the pond.
Say, chirped one of the youngsters,
lets build Ibattleshtp and have q
naval tight on the pond Ike the Japs
and Russians, III take one Jap ship
and fight the two of you he continued.
We hasen't any bonts or / would.
za1f He taSFsRss; ~ss sho~n the /oardz and boxes.
per d tb weTs Ineb plertg nails to to 6e fonnd
worisTnen. Finally he agreed and the
trio built large yaft using cobbIestones
for hammers and wiring tl2s boards to-
gether where nails would not hold.
Little Willie helped. He brought most
OF the lumber to the carpenters. He had
high hopes OF taking & ride on the raft.
Launched to Death.
When 1t was completed the three boys
dragged it 70 the waters edge and
launched it. The Darlington lad got on
first. His weight caused the frail craft
to so down a few. inches and the water
splashed ever the top. This did not
frighten him or deter Lawrence, who
leaped from the bank on TO the raft.
With a shout OF delight he threw up
his hand and told Willie TO wait until
he came back and then the three would
goz on the voyage OF discovery.
:
hesstaod on the bank and saw the newly
built ship pushed farther ana farther
away from where he was standing. Now
and then the boys on the craft looked
back and shouted words of encourage
meat to him. But he continued TO cry
and wipe his eyes with mis- coat sleeve.
Raft Sinks.
Suddenly Willie saw the two boys
growing shorter and shorter. and real
iZed that the raft was sinking. Both
boys shouted to Willie TO run to the
filtration plant for rescue. Willie stood
still fer few seconds to see what was
going TO happen,
Before he could start both lads had
sunk beneath the surface Of the water.
II is believed their feet were stuck In
the soft mud. which made it impossible
for them TO rise even a single time
The Williams boy. screaming at the
top of mis- voice, ran TO the filtration
plant, where he found several workmen
Ia.-i,lg sod He also stopped several
men who were walking along North
Capitol street. and told them OF the
drowning.
Several Youngsters who were in the vi
cintty scf (flenwood Cemetery learned