Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-27
MOTHER BROWNS
IN VAIN EFFORT
TO SAVE CHILD
WOMAN AND DAUGHTER PER-
ISH IN NAPLES CANAL
LITTLE GIRL FALLS IN; PARENT
PLUNoEs TO RESCUE HER
Mrs. William .. Watkins OF Long
Beach and seven-Year-oid
Tot Meet Death To-
gether

In a frantic attempt to save the life
OF her little daughter Eva, vino played
too near the edge of the West Naples
canal, Mrs. William D. Watkins of 1904
East Tenth street, Long Beach, yester-
day sprang into the water, and motner
and child perished together. Such Is
the opinion of relatives and friends OF
the dead woman when news or the
double tragedy was brought to them
yesterday.
The child's cap was found Lying on
the bank. and a little later the pody OF
the mother was recovered. At O'CLOCK
last night the child's body was found
by Edward Carey.
1t YVES learned that the mother and
little girl had been out riding In their
dog cart; that Mrs. Watkins had
hitched the pony near the canal, ana
that mother and child and their pet fox
terrier had been seen at the edge OF s ths
canal-thel mother resting and the chlid
playing with the dog.
Child Romplng with Dog
The canal at this point is between
twelve and fifteen feet deep. Whiie
much of the canal is protected by pui-
Warks, the end of the canal near where
the little cap was found is unprotected.
It Is presumed that Eva, who was just
years old, was romping with the dog
perhaps swinging him on the end or
stick, which was one of his tricks-
when she stepped over the cage. a
feature of the case is that the fox ter
rier was guarding the buggy, patiently
waiting for the return Of his owner.
Mrs. Watkins, who was the wife OF
the proprietor OF the Brunswick billiard
hall at 1877 West Ocean avenue, had not
been we'll for some time. It had peen
her custom to take an early morning
drive In their pony cart. Sometimes
her daughter accompanied ner; at o.n-
and white terrier. Yesterday morning
at Z o'clock she started out with Eva.
They first visited neighbor, MIS-
Scott, whom they found at breakfast.
Mrs. Scott was asked to ride with
them, but owing to the earllness or tne
hour was unable to do SO. Tnoush Mas
watkins had been feeble for some time
she appeared to be in unusually gooo
snfrits when she visited at the Scott
home. It was the last time that mother
or child was seen alive. though diner
emf persons reported seeing the pony
and cart tied to the signboard.
Boys Find Cap
Late yesterday afternoon Thomas
stevenson. a teamster, while driving
along the road near the canal, was at
tracted by the cries. of several boys VINO
were leaning over the canal bank. Ihey
had seen the child's cap, and looking
over the bank discovered the body OF
the mother. Stephenson notified Dep
uty Constable Cason. Edward % .,
Brown, an undertaken, identined the
body as that of Mrs. Watkins.
Those who were we'll acquainted Win
NE Watkins assert that there Is no
reason 10 think she committed suicide
unless a sudden fit of temporary insan-
ity came over her. The home ire OF
the Watkinses was pleasant and the
child Eva was the idol of them all: A
son, Fred. and another daughter. Bes,
sic, live at home, while a married
dauyhter. Mrs. stephen Flood. resides
in Los Angeles. Mrs. Watkins was 40
years old.