Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-06
BODY BROUGHT TO THIS CITY
Funeral From the Residence Of tho
Parents Tomorrow Morning.
SAD ENDING OF A LADS OUTING
Had Gone, Out in Boat With Others
and the Craft Was Over
turned

The remains Of George Cotton Burch. If
teen years OF age. OF 51l street southeast.
who was drowned yesterday morning
shortly before II 30 O'Clock at Colonial
Beach. were brought to this city this
morning and conveyed to Lees undertaking
establishment where they were prepared
for burial and thence to the family home
The funeral will take place tomorrow
morning at Ii o'clock at the residence OF
his parents. Rev. Mr.. Graves pastor Of
the Falls Wa.) Church Baptist Church,
will off1ciate. Interment will be at Con-
sressfonal cemetery The paIlbearers. who
were chosen from among the boys young
companions, will be alter White. Edwin
Tyler. Evans Reed, Harold Shannon, Sami.
McCauley and John Hardey
There were several hundred bathers within
easy reach of young Burch but none knew
that he was In danger. He had gone out
with three companions all of Washington.
In a rowboat- The names of the boys could
not be definitely learned. but IL is said
was Roland Boiler and another was named
Robertson. The third has not been identi-
fed.
After leaving the beach the boys began to
froiie In the boat and the craft was over
turned. plunging the four occupants into
the water. Burch was the only one who
could not swim. For time his companions.
who believed he was a swimmer. thought
naming under water. They were sure he
would come up again. and they said moth
ing.
At last they raised an outcry. and many
OF the bathers went to the rescue. All OF
them dived into the water frequently In
search of the boy but always came up
empty-handed. The search lasted fully two
hours before a man brought the lad to the
surface. The name of the man who recov-
cred the body was not stated, although Ii Is
known that he lives on 1lth street south
east.
Most of the bathers had paid no attention
to the upturned boat. believing the boys
had done 1t purposely. A sister OF young
Burch was bathing at the time of the ac-
cident. and was informed of her brothers
death She swooned before she could reach
the shore. and 1t was with difficulty that
she was kept above the surface while being
taken to the beach Restoratives were ap-
piled and she soon recovered.
Mr.. J. B. Burch. father of the drowned
boy, Is assistant superintendent of the Pru-
Dental Insurance Company at the CONNER
cial National Bank building In this city. He
was spending the day with Mrs. Burch. his
son and his three daughters. Miss L. M.
Burch, Miss d. A. Burch and Miss Lillian
Burch. at the Beach. All of these. except
ing the boy. went down the river Friday.
Young Burch. who was employed for the
summer by the Southern Railway Company
followed them Saturday evening.
Incorrect Rumor.
1t was at first stated that the boys were
diving from the boat but this statement.
according to Mr.. Burch, is not correct. He
states that his son could not swim. and
therefore would not attempt to dive.
Harbormaster Sutton. whois Ill at his cot
tage at Colonial Beach. where he is passing
his vacation, sent a man with the graphing
irons to search for. the body of the boy
after he was told of the accident.
As soon as the body was recovered ar
engagements were made by the family to
al IN IN a nyfn Thav Tod 80 l.a
captain of the steamboat st. Johns for per-
mission to bring the body to this city
aboard the boat, but the request was de-
Med Mr.. Bouch. however was relieved OF
all anxiety In this respect. Mr.. Robert H.
Bontz of IL street northwest, employed
at the Columbia Theater. offering his
launch. the B. C. L.. and his services. which
were gratefully accepted.
The boys body was cared for in the best
manner then possible, and the launch left
Colonial Beach at II o'clock last night. ar
irving at the It'll street wharf this morning
at half-past O. Those In the boat besides
its owner were Mr.. Birch. F. L. Walker of
27h Bates street northwest and z. Len
man of 764 Gresham street northwest.
When seen at his home this morning Mr.
Burch said he would have to be excused
for not giving many details. II haven't
quite completely recovered from the shock
All the funeral arrangements have been
trated, especially Mrs. Burch / owe
debt Of gratitude to great many people,
but especially to Mr.. Bontz. who certainly
proved to be a great friend at such a time"
II offered my services and my launch to
Mr.. Burch." said Mr.. Bontz to a Star re-
porter today. when l first learned of the
accident. Why the body was refused by
the captain OF the st. Johns I cannot tell.
1T was imperative that the body be
brought into Washington at once as the law
allows only thirty hours after death for a
body to be brought into the city, without
first being embalmed and prepared for
burial There were no such facilities at the
beach, and therefore the need of quick
conveyance"
In speaking about the accident, Mr.
likely been rocking the boat. and that when
not come to the surface because he was not
a swimmer. He added that the run from
Colonial Beach was made in good time con- r
sidering the handicaps of the hurried run
at night. The b. c. L. is launch thirty
five feet in length. and has been used by
the owner for pleasure only.
Statement Of Steamboat Company.
At the offices of the E. A Randall Steam
boat Company it was stated that the reason
the body of the drowned boy was not ac-
cepted for transportation aboard the st.
Johns was because his family did not have
the required coroners certificate. Further
more 1t would have been impossible to pro-
cure the certificate before the hour set for
the boat to leave for Washington.
Knocked Down by Bicycle Rider.