Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-01

years. but that Miss Wood was lacking
IN such knowledge. Good Friday, he stated.
he borrowed canoe from a friend and
invited Miss Wood to 10 out with him on
the water.
How many times have you been canoe
ing this spr.ngr' the coroner asked.
Only once" he answered
When was the last time you were in .
canoe prior to Good Fridayg'
GONE time In December"
Mr.. Frye added that he was not IA miilar
with the currents In the river but he knew
there was swift current In that part
where the accident occurred. When he
started upon the return trip. the witness
said, Miss Wood expressed a desire TO learn
how TO paddle. so he permitted her to use
tho paddle.
She did pretty well for about one hum
dred yards" he explained.
Mr.. Frye said he was seated In the stern
Of the boat and Miss Wood was In the bow.
They were about opposite Dixie Landing
was about fifteen yards from the canoe.
His canoe was on the Virginia side of the
channel and the tug was in the channel.
when the first wash came from the
tug" the witness went TO say. Miss
Wood heard the noise beneath the boat and
she lowered the paddle"
And what did you say to herr juror
asked
Il yelled TO her to take a stroke and did
the best could TO prevent an accident"
Witness said the boat passed over several
bound of the water from the shore
When Boat Overturned.
The boat he stated. overturned. and Miss
Wood and himself went overheard Miss
Wood screamed when the boat overturned.
and when she came up she caught hold Of
the canoe. He also took hold of IT, and
tried his best to reach Miss Wood, all the
time advizing her what to do.
But" no said. 'she raised her hands and
sank beneath the surface OF the water"
Did the crew on the tugboat do any thing
to help your? the coroner inquired
mot thing that T could see" the wit
ness responded. THE boat did not even
turn around"
Further. Mr.. Frye related that a number
OF men working In a quarry stood upon the
shore. and asked witness what was going
on. He called for assistance, and a boat
was brought out and he was rescued The
men had to run thirty or forty yards to get
the boat.
Witness told the Jury OF how he begged
the men TO save his companion. He was
told that because Of the condition of the
water no person overheard could have lived
nye minutes. Witness told Of how he pro-
cured q change of clothing and walked
along the towpath to Georgetown
Lieut. sutton and Sergt Dean were ales.
toned. ana they told OF the danger that
one might expect to encounter on the upper
potomac IN a canoe. The former stated that
there Is no law governing the speed OF
boats above the Long bridge and he said he
had not received any complaints about
steamers troubling sIpaI boats on the river.
Sergt Dean said that the water In the chan
mel Is very deep.
Notified the Authorities.
Mr.. Frye stated that he had made in
quiries about the water near the scene Of
the accident and was informed that tho
water Is from sixty to eighty feet deep.
He said he notified the authorities of the
accident after he returned to the city and
said he told Miss Woods relatives of the
sad affair.
Detective Patrick O'Brien testified that
he made an investigation of the accident
and learned that the people on the tug
Walter F. Meade had not witnessed the
accident He also said he thought the
men at the quarry did all they could to
save Miss Wood. He told him that Mr..
Frye called to them to save the woman;
that he could take care Of himself.
Sergeant Dean, pilot Of the police boat.
testified that the water WAS high the day
the accident occurred. He made an in
thing possible was done to save Miss
Wood from drowning.
John Kendrick. pilot of the tug Walter
F. Meade. testified that no member of his
crew Witnessed the accident His boat,
he said. was not going fast at the time 1t
passed the canoe.
daughter to have been in a canoe that
dayf" Coroner hewitt asked
mo. sir" was his response.
Witness said he considered canoeing on
the upper river dangerous when there Is
any current in the river.
A young man who said his name 70
TONY" testified that he saw the man ana
woman in the boat. and watched them IN
the water after the boat was overturned
Would you like to go down the river IN
one of the small boatsT'
NO" he replied.
John Cisco told OF what ne knew Of the
accident, and said he went out In a small
boat and took the young man ashore.