Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1908-03-02
FOUR SMALL BOYS
DROWNED At MART
SIX WERE IN A BOAT WHEN 1T
cAPsIZED, THE OTHER TWO
cLINGlNG TO 1T.
i|0ReoI Them Could Swim
Boys Had Gone to the Lake to Catch
crawfish, Securing Boat and
Going Onto the Water-Ru-
pert Gossett Is Dead.

peri 1OSSSII is DSdus
Mart, Texas, Feb. 29.-By the over
turning of a boat in which six small
boys were fishing on a small lake
near this place this afternoon, four OF
them were drowned and the other
-,tro, clinging to the bottom of the
boat, were rescued almost an hour
later Tne-dead:
BAILEY YANCY, aged IL.
HARVEY vINSON, aged 10.
WILLIE RILEY, aged IL.
RUPERT GoSSETT, aged 9.
Those who escaped are Gilbert
Broughton and Robert johnson.
The boys, with several others of
about the same age, had gone to the
lake to catch crawfish. The half doz-
en- secured the rowboat and pulled out
into the water, which was from Is to
SO feet in depth at the place where it
was overturned. Boys on the bank
say that the boat was not rocked, but
that al1sits occupants were busily en-
gagged in fishing when one, attempting
! TO pass from one end to the other end,
the boat capsized and all were flung
headlcng into the water.
There was small cutlery from the
boys who were drowned. Those who
were nearest the boat, young Brough-
ton and Johnson, fortunately for them
selves, seized either end and managed
to cling safely The other four lads
sank almost Immediately. Rising to
the surface of the water again, as
did two or three of them, their strug
giles made their now frantic compan-
ions panic-stricken. Two of these ex-
ercised presence of mind in starting
away at the top of their speed for as
sistance.
None of the boys who were in the
fishing party, either in the boat or
dbOQI tllC UtnhS VI LlO ldhS, WOlO dUlC
to swim. The few who stood helpless
while the pair ran away toward the
town, were forced to stand and watch
the heart-rending struggles of the lit
-tle fellows as they came to the surface
of the water for the last time.
Meanwhile, the two lads hurried
from the edge of town, where the
small lake is located, into the bust
ness section, and within a few min
ntes hundreds of men, women and
children were hurrying toward the
spot The scenes at the lake are in
describable
Efforts were at once made, after
n6caipg the thoroughly drenched and
error-stricken boys from the bottom
pbf the upturned boat, to bring up the
bodies of the lads who had sunk. The
accident had occurred about 4:90
O'clock. The first body, that of Bailey
.Nkncy, was recovered few minutes
gr 6 o'clock. Within another half
an hour the limp and lifeless form of
Harvey Vinson was taken from the
water. About 1880 o'clock the party
found all that is mortal of Willie Riley.
Continuing its work without stop ex-
cept for hurried consultation and
changing positions, the rescuing party
did not succeed in bringing UP the
body of little Rupert Gossett, the
smallest lad of those who had been
drowned, until about $3.50 o'clock to-
night Heroic efforts to restore life
proved unavailing.
The father of Bailey Yancy is con-
nected with the lumber plant here.
Harvey Wilson's father is in the mer-
camille and insurance business. En-
gineer Riley of the International and
Great Northern railroad is the father
of Willie Riley. Rupert Gossett's IA
Their WIS crushed to death in an acct
dent about year ago. His widowed
mother resides here. His body will
likely be taken tomorrow afternoon to
Palestine for burial near that of his
father. Tomorrow afternoon at 3
O'Clock will be held services over the
remains of the other three victims of
the accident of today.
Brought Here For Burial.