The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-28
TRAGEDY IN RIVER
REQUIEM MASS FOR
 MOBILE BOY.
DROWNED
 x
Bodies Of Three Negroes Who Lost Lives At McGrew Shoals Are Re- covered-Young verneuille
 still Missing.

Mobile, Sept 27.--(Special. )--Re- quiem mass for the repose of the soul and the recovery of the body of Leslie Verneuille, who was drowned yester- day iri the Tombigbee River, at McGrew shoals. will be offered tomorrow morn ing at ' o'clock in St. Matthews Church. oakdale, by Father J. w. Dunn.
 Work on the government lock at Me- Grew shoals was completely stopped this morning and all the laborers were set to work searching for the body of the boy and of the sixteen negroes who were drowned at the same time. At last reports, Verneuille's body has not been found.
 At midnight last night, w. B. Yer neuille, father of the lost boy, reached his home in Oakdale. News of the be- reavement had been conveyed to the mother and seven other children by long distance telephone, and a host of friends had gathered at the home to console the sorrowing family. By noon today, hope for the recovery of the body had almost been given up, and the offering of the mass will be made in the hope that better success may thereby be secured. Requiem masses are frequent. but one for the recovery of body is a most unusal ceremony.
 According to the fathers story of the tragedy, fate seemed to be pursu- ing the boy that morning. Frequent cautions had been given him not to cross in a crowded boat. At noon the father, feeling an inward premonition of danger, warned him not to cross, saying, "Ill bring your dinner to you, son."
 Leslie, however. disregarded Nhis The boat in which he first started 10 make the crossing seemed too crowded to his father, who was on the other side and he shouted to his son to get out. This Leslie did, and entered an other. As this was showing off, a crowd of negroes rushed down the bank and clambered in.
 In midstream, one of the negroes, shouting with laughter, began to rock the boat, despite Leslie.s orders. He tipped the craft so far over that all the men on his side got wet. All or them sprang up at once to the other side.
 The boat whirled over. burying them all in the turbid waters of the river.
 From the shore, MT. Verneutlle watched his son drown, unable to help him. The boy could swim slightly but when he had swan within twenty-five fact of the shore on which his father stood. he went down. Every white man had joined in the attempt to reach him before he sank, but without avail.
 Mir. Verneuille was master machinist. superintending the construction or Government Lock No. l at McGrew's Shoals, which are near Jackson, Ala His son had been working under him last April, intending to become ma chinist like his father.
 Leslie verneuille was IT years old. He left school in the senior grammar grade, and started to work. His last employment in Mobile was with Alke- meyers establishment. W hen that con cern was dissolved, he announced his intention to follow In his fathers foot steps, and with that end in view place was arranged for him at the government work.
 Seven children are left. There Is one other boy, Felix, aged 12. His sisters are Mrs. Claude Lott, Mrs. William Rol- lins, Mrs. Charles Marcitt and Misses Lucia, Mabel and Myrtle Verneuille.
 MT. VerneuiIIe, Sr, is member of Forest Camp, Woodmen of the World