The Washington times., 1906-06-25
BOATS SINK WITH
BRIDE AND GROOM
AND A YOUNG MAN
Mr.. and Mrs. Saalbach
and Robert Purcell
the Victims.

The treacherous currents of the
Upper Potomac claimed three more
victims yesterday, and cast another
gloom over the large number of
aquatic sportsmen that spend Sun
days on the river.
Edward r. Saalbach, a clerk in
the War Department, and his bride
of only eight months. were drowned
about 1870 o'clock yesterday after
noon by the overturning of canoe
in the greatest death hole of the
entire river-the abutment about
fifty yards above Dixie Landing. on
the Virginia shore-and later in the
afternoon Robert Purcell, formerly
one of the star athletes at Central
High School, and for the last three
years an employe of the District
government, met horrible death in
the rocks Just below the old stone
dam that crosses the river at the
canal feeder above High Island. His
companion, William Richard Dear,
better known as Dick Dear, escaped
because of his strong physique,
after a struggle lasting over an
hour, in which time he battled with
the currents for fully a mile.
The Saalbach Tragedy.
Mr.. and Mrs. Saalbach left their home,
1402 w street, at noon yesterday 10 spend
the remainder Of the day on the water.
Mr.. Saalbach was a member Of the
Washington Canoe Club, and considered
one OF the ablest canoeists IN the club.
He was an expert swimmer. and the
manner In which he was dragged TO his
death was only another example OF the
powers of the river currents.
just before Mr.. and Mrs. Saalbach left
the float at the clubhouse three other
members. James F. Drysdale, c. D.
Backus. and J. II. Boyden, had started
up the river in a canoe. Mr.. Saalbach
soon caught up with the trio. and as he
passed shouted a warning TO them about
the rocks
They landed on the Virginia shore just
above Dixie Landing. while the three
men continued about a hundred yards
further up. and Mr.. Drysdale. who had
water The current here is very swift,
and owing to the recent rains. was more
treacherous than II ordinarily is. Mr..
DrysdaIe intended swimming down with
the current, and the canoe was 10 fol-
low closely in case he met with diff
Guilty
when Mr.. Boyden exclaimed, That
man and woman have fallen into the
water.
Help Came Too Late
Several other boats were in the vi
cinity. but the one containing the men
was the closest, and they Immediately
set out for the scene Mr.. Drysdale fol-
lowed in the water. but by the time they
had reached the spot where the boat
capsIzed the current had carried it's two
victims several yards further down
Mrs. Saalbach had disappeared. but her
husband was stiE on the surface
once Mrs. Saalbach's head came to
the surface and Drysdale made a su~
preme effort TO reach her. but IL was
zoo late. Saalbach also had gone to the
bottom. and Drysdale had becom= rear
lv exhausted swimming in the rapid cur
rent Neither of the bodies came to tho
surface again, but hundreds of canoe
lists in the vicinity began a search. The
police were notified. and the harbOr boat
Under command of Captain Sutton. was
Immediately dispatched TO the scene or
the tragedy. and the river was dragged
for hunreds Of yards without discover
ing the bodies. The search was continued
this morning by the police as well as a
large number OF river men. and men,
hers of the Washington Canoe Club. Al
noon today the search had been wtthoue
result.
As Told by Royden.
Mr.. Boyden gave a graphic accoun,
of the drowning to a Times reporter this
morning. He said;
Mrs. Saalbach was sitting in the end
of the boat. and as her husband showed
il of the shore 1t upset. We were not
xcontinued on Fourth page1