Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-06-19
A Distressing Accident.

O'clock last night IN the river OPPo9'O
this CITY by which Miss Virginia DOW
ner aged is. of Norfolk, was drowned
The unfortunate young woman mao oeen
q-:finc At the residences OF MI o. l.
Rurke Prof A. Hoxton, on Seminary
hin and Miss Bessie Jones, daughter OF
DIR f. n. Jones, and during the short
time she had been in this city bad made
q number of acquaintance, and her
death and the circumstances In connec-
tion with the same have thrown a gloom
over the community, especially III the
Younger circles 10 which she had been
moving.
The circumstances in connection with
the drowning are as follows: Miss Downer
had entered "a canoe belonging to the Ola
Dominion Boat Club in company with
Mr.. John Burke, jr., her cousin, to
enjoy Il moonlight trip upon the river.
They had nearly reached the channel
bank on the opposite side OF the river
when three excursion steamers came
alnno. Two we're on their way up the river
and the other was going down. Mss
Downer was seated in the bow and Mr..
Rursein the stern Ofthe canoe. Both were
padding the boat The swells from the
three steamers sent the little craft upon
the ton of gaye, causing it TO careen,
,yhen Miss Dowuer lost her equilibrium
and fell out. the boat OSerturnlng III Tue
meantime in the trough OF The sea, Mr.,
Burke, with presence of mind, took hold
of his Communion and, succeeding in
.'righting" the canoe and told her 10
hold on until they could be rescued by
narlies from the shore. The going
woman, however, attempted TO get into
the canoe and in doing so rolled 1t over,
bottom-up. This act she repeated three
times. until she was finally prevailed
anon by her companion to cling to the
overturned boat and remain passive UNI
iii relief arrived Both the young man
and Young woman we're almost exhausted
DIV this lime. and a huge swell COM
I'M, along washed both from the
canoe Miss Downer was seen no more,
but Mr.. Burke. after many efforts 70
rescue his companion, MANAGED to regain
the canoe TO which he held until aid
reached him. boat which CHANGED to be
near by having gone to his rescue.
Mr. Burke's shouts for help had at
4rocted considerable attention from peo-
ole on .he wharves, and it having been
noised throughout the city that a young
woman had been drowned. hundreds OF
people subsequently, gathered on the
70, front and number OF boats pro-
ceeded TO the scene of the accident and
an immediate search for the body was
Instituted, which was continued today
more than a dozen engaging In the
work. This morning the Washington
notice boat Vigilant came down and
aided in the search for the body.
About ten O'Clock the body was rscoV-
cred by Messrs. JOS Mills, Alpheus
Robey, Harry Arnold and Guy Wood
who were in boat dragging the river
for it. Mr.. J. f. Burke shortly after
hearing of the drowning offered hand
some reward for its recovery.
The remains were taken to Demalne
Sons undertaking establishment. After
having been prepared they we're removed
10 Mr.. Burke's residence. They Will be
forwarded to the home of the deceased.
They will leave here on the Aoriolk
steamer this evening
Miss DOwner was a native OF NoriOlk,
where her mother, Mrs. Eliza Downer
formerly Miss Eliza Green, who IS we'll
known in this city, resides Her brother
is lieutenant OF the command at Fort
ress Monroe.
Miss Downer had been visiting Miss
Jones for the past week. About year
400. il will be remembered, Miss Jones
visited Norfolk. While there she mar
rowly escaped drowning at Virginia
Beach. Yesterday at dinner refer
ence was made to the coming outing
in the canoe. Dr. Jones referred
TO the narrow escape his daughter had
had near Miss Downer's home year
ago, and expressed his approximations at
the indulgence in such sport by young
women. Miss DOwner merely laughed
at what she considered unnecessary alarm
about canoeing and went out.
1t is further said that the mother OF
the unfortunate young woman also had
beranxieties, and that at her solicitation
Miss Downer made the trip from Norfolk
TO this city by rail instead ofby water.
This is the second instance where
voune women have lost their lives by
drowning at this place during the past
fourteen wears. On July 4, 1891, Miss
Marietta Dove, daughter of Mr.. Lew
Dove. of lower Fairfax county, stepped
ofthe wharf at the foot of Prince street,
after she had landed from an excursion
steamer. and was drowned.
The Board Of Governors OF the Olo
Dominion Boat Club met this morning
and formulated the following order
which was later posted at the boat house
ain view OF the distressing ac
cident which has Just occurred, th'
further use of boats is positively forbid
dent uotiI this notice is Withdrawn, anC
the boat house is ordered closed. BY
nrder of the Board of Governors.
The Churches.
Yesterday was warm day ana IN
beot kent many people indoors, not"lth