Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-14
death BY ACCIDENT
Miss Elsie Wood Drowned in
River Yesterday Afternoon
BY cAPsIzING OF CANOE
George Frye, Her Companion, Had
Marrow Escape.
POLICE SEARCHING FOR BODY
Young People Had Spent Afternoon
Near Dixie Landing and Were
Returning Home.

i
| day afternoon about 8 o'clock Miss Elsie
Wood, twenty-five years of age lost her
life. and George Rex Frye eighteen years
of age, had narrow escape. He was
thrown into the water when the boat cap
sized. but was rescued by two men from
| Smiths stone quarry.
The mother of young Frye stated this
morning that ne notified the officers of the
| police boat Of the result Of the accident
and did not tell the police Immediately be-
cause he supposed the notice to the police
boat would be sufficient Mrs Frye said
her son reached home about $50 o'clock,
and about 1:30, an hour later, she accom-
panied him to the home of Miss Woods
family, to whom he gave details of the
unfortunate occurrence
AS soon Capt Boardman learned of
the affair he detailed Detectives Helan and
U Brien upon the case with instructions
that thorough investigation be made of
the affair and that an effort be made to
recover the body. Detective Helan at once
interviewed witnesses to the accident and
heard their statements, and Detective
O'Brfen accompanied the crew of the police
boat this morning to the place where the
accident occurred. Mr.. Frye whose home
Is at No. IA 4th street northeast, and who
is student at Georgetown College, was
also in the party. Mr.. E. Wade Wood,
brother of the deceased who lives at 426
Sth street northeast, and several friends of
the young woman also went to the scene
of thf drowning and expressed a willing
ness to assist the members of the crew of
the police boat in their efforts to recover
the remains. The boat left the harbor pre-
cinct wharf at o'clock and soon reached
the part of the river where Miss Wood was
drowned.
1t is stated that Mr. FRYE is a member of
the boat club connected with the George
town University. He is not an expert SWIM
mer, however. and 1T was without doubt
for this reason that he was unable to save
his companion from drowning
The Friends Informed.
About O'Clock last night the sister of
Miss Wood received a special delivery let
ter from young Frye informing her that
her sister had been drowned. The letter
stated that the fatal accident had occurred
near Dixie landing, on the Virginia side
of the river, not far from the quarry men
toned. Shortly after the letter was re-
ceived the relatives of the young lady made
inquiries over the telephone, but were UNI
able to ascertain particulars from the DO
lice. A short while subsequently, however.
the intelligence conveyed in the letter was
confirmed. Frye and his mother called at
| the house of Miss Woods relatives. Frye
explained fully how the accident happened.
Frye was in an extremely nervous condt-
ton He said nothing about the drowning
of Miss Wood until after his father. who
| is. employed on the night force at the gov
eminent printing office, had gone to work
o-dnt have the heart to tell him. said
| the young man later in the night, s'and |
knew 1t would worry him so much that he
wouldn't go to work"
After the father had left the house the
young man told his mother of what had &C.
CURED, and asked her to accompany him to-
the house of relatives of Miss Wood that
ne might tell them of the affair. and 1t was
6here that Detective O'Brien found him and
learned from htRa the story of the accident.
Mr.. Frye went to police Headquarters and
repeated the story to Cant. Boardman. His
statement of the occurrence was that he
ana MISS wood went to Moore's boathouse
near the Aqueduct bridge, about noon YES,
terday and hired a canoe. They had their
lunch with them and went as far as Dixie
iandihg, where they went ashore and ate
the lunch
Canoe Overturned.
The afternoon was spent on the river
shore. and they started upon the return trim
shortly before O'Clock Miss Wood had
never padded a canoe and was anxious IN
learn the art. Her escort was irving n
teach her when the tug John F. Meade came
along on Its way up the river and the swelIs
from the tug caused Miss Wood to become
excited. She put the paddle deep into the
water instead or withdrawing it, as direct
ed, II is said, and the boat overturned
Miss Wood held to one side of the craft
ana Mr.. Frye was on the other He told
hef not to let go, and was making an effort
10 get 10 ner when she suddenly went down
Just after the accident occurred the
young man called to the workmen at the
quarry TO save the young lady and when
Two OF them, Jefferson Hughes and John
Sherrier' came out In small boat he told
them to save Miss Wood and not bother
about him, but they could not see her, and
said 1t would do no good for them to Jump
overheard. They rescued the young man
and took him across the river, landing him
upon the rocks below the canal
With the water dripping from his clothes.
the heart-broken college student made his
way along the towpath toward the city
passing q policeman near the Aoueduct
bridge. but too badly frightened to say a
word to him. The writing of the letter, the
call upon relatives OF Miss Wood and a de-
tailed statement of the affair to the police
followed.
II only wish 1 had gone down and Miss
Wood had been saved" sobbed the young
man while at police headquarters last
| night.
Unable to Rescue Miss Wood.
A number of men employed at Smiths
| quarry, including several Italians, wit
messed the accident, but they were unable
| to reach the couple in the water in time to
gave the young woman's life. Eugene F.
Leger and Benotte Leger, brothers, living
| at $50 I'd street northeast viewed the oc-
| currence from a distance. They were in n
| canoe. but were too far away to be of as
| sistance. They saw the two men rescue
| Frye from the river and take him ashore,
| but they were not close enough to hear him
pleading with them to save Miss Wood.
The men at the quarry heard him crying
For Gods cake save the lady" but, as
already stated, they were afraid to Jump
overheard and make the attempt.
There were three other young men not
far away at the time, but they Were In
about the same position the Leger broth
ers. After Frye had been rescued the other
young men watched him as he made his
| way along the line of the canal and did not
| lose sight OF him until he was near George
town.
| In view OF the growing popularity of
canoeing as a river sport, and the fact that
| in the spring and summer larger number
/ of persons each season go out on the river
| In small boats of every description 1t Is
| thought probable that as an additional
measure of precaution an effort win be
| made to have the police patrol the upper
river in launch during the boating season.
| Approves the Plan.
| When he was informed this morning that
the suggestion had been made unof1icially,
| to have a patrol OF police In a launch on