The Washington times., 1909-04-19
DRAGGING POTOMAC
FOR BODY OF BOY
Elmer Lacey'S Parents AL
most Despair of Recover
ing Child's Remains.

Grief reiEns today IN the entire
neighborhood Of Sixth street and New
York avenue northwest, and everything
else has been forgotten in the sorrow
attending the death of Elmer Lacey, the
bright little thirteen-year-old son OF
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. Elmer Lacey, Of 6O7
New York avenue. whose body is still
unreclaimed IN the waters of the tidal
basin.
8 A sturdy little boy. Homer. the twin
brother of Elmer. who was with his
brother yesterday when the tragedy
occurred, stands by. and Just a block
away little Dewey Nell. ten years old,
who was also a companion of Elmer on
the boating trip, Is wrapped in heavy
coverings on a couch grieving for the
little friend who IS gone.
The Boat CapSized.
I'VE did not hire the boat at the
basin." Homer Lacey said, but at the
Ninth street wharf. My brother had
been anxious to go boating several days
and I tried to persuade him not to 90.
I told him I would not go with him.
and then he said he was going TO get
another fellow to go. I knew this boy
couldn't pull and I was afraid some
thing might happen so I told Elmer
I would go. So with Dewey Neil we
went down to the Ninth street wharf
and hired the boat for . cents. We
came UP to the basin and were just
coming through when the boat struck
the cement wall. The current was very
strong there and the boat was turned
over.
Dewey Nell climbed up on a little
projection of the wall and my brother
tried to get up, too. He grabbed hold
OF Dewey and the two of them fell
back into the water. cannot swim
and had never fioated in my life. but
somehow I managed to float. Dewey
got hold of me around the neck, but
Etin 1 fioated. believe about 100 yards.
when somebody pulled us out of the
water. I looked around for my brother
and ne was nowhere TO be seen l
screamed and some of the men went
could not"
Elmer Grabbed Him.
Little Dewey Neil, who is the closest
friend the Lacey boys had, was prop
ped up on a couch in the dining-room
of mis- home. zoos Sixth street northwest.
Dewey Is ten years old. and he frankly
ackn1w1edged today that he has learn
ed his lesson once and for all.
Il don't know just how it happened"
ne said. ''but the boat bumped into
something and threw US all out. tried
10 climb up on part of the wall. but
somebody grabbed me by the feet. L
think II must have been Elmer. fell
back into the water and the next thing
7 knew I was thrown up against Homer.
I grabbed him around the neck. We
went under the water twice, but some
body pulled us out When we were put
tn q boat we missed Elmer, and the
men searched for him, but they couldn't
ind him"
Mrs. Nell said this morning that the
boys had planned to go boating Satur-
day, but that Homer Lacey came to
her and begged her to try and talk
Elmer out of the notion of going. Mrs.
Lacey pointed out to Elmer and Dewey
the dangers that they might encounter,
and told Elmer that II he and Dewey
persisted in their intention 10 go she
II had forgotten all about IT." said
Mrs. Nell. until that big black wagon
drew up TO the door and there were
the two boys with the awful story"
MI. Lacey Complains.
Nip. Lacey today sent the following
letter TO the Commissioners:
To the Honorable Commissioners of the
District of Columbia:
Gentlemen-I want TO enter q conf
plant against the party who hired A
boat to my thirteen-year~old boys
Twins.
The party IS located at the Ninth
street wharf. This man was so greedy
for . cents that he never hesitated or
even warned the small boys of their
danger.
As you have safeguarded children
against toy pistols and cigarettes, il
seems 20 me, a distracted parent. that
the hiring Of boats to children should
For 25 cents he contributed TO the
cause OF my child's death. and We, the
parents, sit or pace the floor hoping and
praying that the body may be re-
severed
You cannot restore our darling 20 us
but you can prevent other parents
hearts being broken In this WAY.
Yours very truly,
J. ELMER LACEY.
The drowning OF young Lacey yester-
day afternoon was the first fatality of
its kind this season at the tidal basin
The accident occurred about $3.50 O'clock
The boat IN which the Lacey boys and
young Nell were rowing was overturned
just at The entrance to the basin. Homer
Lacey and Nell were rescued by II. 3
White, OF 1917 Quarry road; r. II. Ber-
nard, of 80 New Jersey avenue south
east Edward Lancaster, OF 1912 Half
street, and an unidentified negro.