The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-11
Identity of One Boy Is
 Unknown. THREE OF THE VICTIMS
 WERE WHITE YOUTHS Swollen Waters of the River Claims
 Heavy Toll. William billiard, Tom Harper and An Unknown Boy, Together With One- Armed Bob Goodwin, the Fer ryman, and Dick Johnson,
 Laborer, On nl-fat-
 cd Graft.

Five men went to their deaths in the Alabama river at the foot of Com ,nerce street, Tp>-y morning at 9:1O o'clock, when boat in which they rode was capsized, and the stream thus claimed, the heaviest human toll within Montgomery'' memory.
 Three of the victims were white men, Willie billiard. aged 20, of III whitman street; Tom Harper, of Att lanta, Dillard's cousin; and an un- known bCy.
 Two were negroes. one old "One-arm ed Bob'' Goodwin. the ferryman, and the other a negro laborer, Dick John- son.
 The swirling river, now at hood stage, shrouds a mystery. For the identity of the unknown white boy has become a puzzlinr problem. Flo one who knew him, saw him embark in the bateau with the others, and though acquaintances of Dillard and Harper were present. none knew the other.
 Since the tidings of the death or the unknown white boy. many Mont gomery mothers have experienced a frenzy of anxiety. There were many whose boys, who left after breakfast, failed to show up at the noon hour. and the frenzy grew. Telephone calls to places of employment were many, through the day.
 Throughout last night nothing of definite nature was learned in the city as to the identity of the unknown. and 1t will probably be several days be- fore the puzzle Is solved Today or tomorrow, perhaps. some homo will continue to miss its son, and the anx- iety of some one family, will have been justified. .
 It is far from likely that the bodtss will be recovered before the latter part of the week, for the current of the Alabama is that of a torrent in US flooded condition. and the general the- ory is that already the five bodies have been swept far down the stream.
 It has not been possible as yet, be- cause of the swift current. and the height of the flood. to make any sound ings or dragging for the bodies.
 The five were crossing the river in A batteau, Bob, with the negro John son going to gain his ferry boat. which was locked on the other side, and the white boys accompanying him to look after a boat which had been left across the river.
 The batteau as 1t neared the othe side, was above the ferry cable, which had saEged so as to lie just beneath the surface The swift current of the food-tide bore the boat down upon the submerged cable, which was dis covered too late.
 Strikes Wire Rope.
 One of the passengers, declare the eye-Witnesses to the tragedy, reached over the side of the boat to move the cable from its path: at the same time the batteau struck the heavy wire rope, and, lifted from the water by the im- pact, capsized spilling the occupants into the flood.
 Screaming and clutching frantically, the men came up: three sank almost with the first cry, and did not rise again.
 one of the white boys. and the old ferryman struck out Bob catching up with the floating boat. It was near the farther shore that the spill oc- cured, and the watchers from the Montgomery bank, and those on board the Nettie Quill, which was anchored on the city shore, were powerless to aid They saw the negro endeavor 10 push the boat against the current to rescue the one struggler left. and sa W him fail. The white boy. unknown to the watchers. fought against the cur rent. which bore him up for probably one hundred feet. Then his head went under, as he was hurled into twistibg eddy, and there was not ripp.e to show where he sank.
 Bob, clinging to the Opturned boat. was carried far down the river. AS lie neared the government snas boat, which Is anchored near the bend. at the Elmore county side, boat was put out to meet him.
 rope was thrown from the small boat to the negro. Unable to catch inc rope with his single hand and sttll hold to the boat, Bob loosed his hold on the place of comparative safety, in a despairing effort.
 The rope sank, Bob's clutching hand fall short, and he went under in Q whirlpool He never rose, despite the fact that he is a strong swimmer, and if Is thought that the suction of the wndertow caught him, or else that a Noating log. or "dead-head" struck him with a disabling blow. And thus old one-armed Bob, who has saved lives Sron, the river and who has been dec orated as a hero. came to the fate which he, himself, has thwarted of vic tims.
 Many Witness Tragedy.
 The tragedy of the river happened in the broad daylight of the morning, and in full view of many, The Nettie Quill had arrived at the city wharf, and was anchored just across the river from the spot al "hlcH tie SPiil oc- cured There were several passen- gers and stevedores who saw the drowning.
 There were several on the shore who saw It. as well as one or two of the government snag boat Twining, which was anchored just below
 There are few who differ as to de- tails. But there are fewer still who saw the entire occurrence. The five united a boat which rested near the steamboat. and padded across, Bob in the bow a white boy in the stern with a paddle as rudder. and Johnson, the negro. in the middle, padding.
 After this the most lost sight of them, as there was nothing unusual in the party ot attract notice. They padded upstream on the Montgomery side. to cross beyond the ferry cable. SC that the swift current would bear them