Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1909-12-03
The Waterproof Tragedy.
(Natchez News, Monday. }

La, Saturday afternoon, were the
favorites of the little village. Lit
tie thinking of the hidden dangers
of the sand cave on the banks OF
the Mississippi river where they
had so often whiled away the va
cation hours, seven Waterproof
children Saturday were caught III
cave-in while playing. Two were
suffocated before help was sum-
monded.
The Waterproof Enterprise tells
of the terrible accident as follows:
"a most distressing accident
occurred Saturday afternoon,
about quarter to three O'Clock,
in which two Of the children OF
IWaterprocf's best known families
we're killed, and five Others mar
irowly escaped death.
AT nearly three o'clock, Car
roll Middlebrooks came rushing
breathlessly into the store OF MIR.
J. Tesla and told him that two
of his children, with Others had
been caught by rave-ln sand
pile below the levee, and TO hurry
and get them out before they died.
1.-The alarm was Immediately
Igiven, and the entire town, both
white and colored, rushed to the
scene of the accident with skOrels
land hoes in an endeavor to rescue
the imperiled children.
Upon reaching the scene, 1t
was found that three of the boys
were covered only as far rs their
waists, and they were soon re-
leased. After frantic digging Oh
the part of all who could get near
enough, the other two boys-Ed-
ward Seaman and Walter Webb
were taken from the rear of the
pit, and every effort made to re-
suscitate them, but to no purpose.
1t was soon evident that they were
beyond the aid of earthly help,
and the doctor, who soon arrived,
pronounced them dead.
"From the story told by the
children, it was learned that the
seven-Carroll MiddlebrOoks, Car
roll and Mack Seaman, John and
Frank Tesla, and the unfortunate
| Edward Seaman and Walter Webb
had noticed cave left in the
sand bank a few days ago after
the removal of some sand for
building purposes. They decided
it would he n good place to play
"Cherry Mine Disaster" and were
soon engaged in digging III tie
cave, which ran in for over five
feet into the bank. The overhang-
ing part weighed several tons,
and, becoming loosened by the
Efforts of the children, suddenly
caved in on them, completely
| burying Walter Webb and Edward
seaman. The two Tesla boys and
Carroll and Mack Seaman were
further out from the inner wall,
and were only buried up to their
waists, even then being unable to
pxtricate themselves, with the eX-
ception of Mack Seaman. Carroll
| MiddlebrOOks was Onl Y caught by
| his feet, being at the time farth-
est away from the cavern, and he
managed to wrench himself loose
and run to Mr.. Testa's store to
give the alarm.
"Conveyances were summoned,
md the unfortunate victims OF
he accident were taken to their
homes, whore their grief-strickrn
parents, who had already been
Informed of the distressing affair,
were awaiting their remains"
| Funeral services were conduct
ed at the Waterproof Methodist
church Sunday morning ut eleven
o'clock, the services of both child
rem being held at the same hour.
Rev. p. II. Fontainc, the pastor,
dictated. The bodies were shipped
to Natchez where interment took
place this morning. Both child
rem were Inferred in the City Gem
etpry. and the services were con-
Quoted by Rev. ii. b. Lewis, Of
the Pearl Street Methodist church.
Edward Seaman was buried at.
nine O'Clock, while the burial of
the Webb child took place ut
eleven. The burial services were
lattcndcd by a number of relatives
and friends of friends of children.
Home Made Syrup.