The Washington herald., 1909-08-03
WASHINGTON HERALD BUREAU.
lB Soc y Royal Street

WASHINGTON HERALD BUREAU.
% Soc y Royal Street
Alexandra, Va, Aug. Three negroes, \
Ernest Grady. Robert McKenna, and
John Hardy, all OF this city. were drown
ed half a mile south OF Fort FOote about
10 o'clock tonight while returning from
q day on the river In Il launch. Frank
jackson and Robert Grady both negroes,
also OF this city. were saved.
The boat, the property Of Robert Grady.
was proceeding Up the river az a rather
slow gait when it was seen TO blaze.
Tho flame attracted the occupants Of
the gasoline launch Gulmore, OF Wash
ington. which had aboard a party OF
Wash!ngtonians. including Z. r. David
son. 1872 Twelfth street northwest. and
o. r. Evans. S6 Bryant street north
east.
The occupants OF the Gulmore al once
came 70 the assistance OF the disabled
launch, and as they did so all five OF
the negroes jumped head foremost into
the river, overturn!ng the boat.
With great difficulty Davidson and
Evans pulled Ia Jackson and Grady as
they were sinking IN more than twenty
feet OF water Intellectual efforts were
made 20 recover the other three men.
Ropes We're thrown and everything pos
sible done 10 save them without avail
The FIRE in the launch, Il IS said,
amounted 90 but little. and Is thought
10 have been caused by a leak in the en-
gine Had the occupants remained calm
ly aboard they would have IN all prob
ability been saved from a watery grave.
Evidently, however. they were overcome
with fright, and jumped out. believing
] al. 10
Frank jackson subsequently appeared
AZ police headquarters, and said that the
only thing he knew Of the occurrence was
that the boat took fire and burned Up.
This statement was not, however. borne
out by others, who believed that had
they remained on board they would have
been saved.
AS soon as Il was found impossible
20 rescue the three negroes. the launch
at once came 10 this city with the two
survivors aboard, and the Washington
ians reported the accident 10 the police
department, and the latter notified the
Washington authorities
The bodies Of the drowned negroes
viii be dragged for tomorrow morning
by the Washington harbor police boat.
The three drowned men were well-known
IN this city.
News Of the drowning rapidly spread
throughout the city. and shortly after
ward, a large crowd assembled on the
wharf 70 learn the details. News Of the
drowning was also conveyed TO the rela-
lives OF the dead men by the survivors Of
the accident Among those who gathered
on the wharf was a large number Of
negroes.
Daniel w Wenk. about nfty years OF
| age. q florist. residing at 13 Gibbon
street, lies tonight at HIS home at the
point Of death as q result or q cutting
ARRAY which took place within a Few feet
OF his home Saturday night last shortly
! before midnight
Herman Haynes. charged with know
Ing something OF the affair. was arrested
shortly after o'clock tonight by Po-
| liceman Frank Sampson. Wenk's daugh-
! ter. Miss Alice Wenk, win also be sum-
moned 10 explain what she knows OF the
| fight IT is said that Mr.. Wenk is unable
to tell who cut him.
Haynes, when seen tonight, was IN
| communicative about the affair. He said
that he was sitting in an adjoining yard
/ Saturday night with Miss Alice Wenk
and after leaving her he was attacked
1 By the girls father while he was sitting
on the stoop OF a nearby house The
/ father Of the girl, he claims, attempted
/ to drag him into the house. and subse-
quently assaulted him He was cut at
/ the same time Wenk was cut, but he
claims he does not know who cut him,
and he also denied with emphasis that
! he knows who cut Wenk
/ have seven stitches taken in his left arm
at the Office of Dr. S. 3. Moore follow
/ ing the fracas. Haynes asserts that he
/ knows nothing further OF the affair. The
affair created considerable excitement in
| the neighborhood at the time. and hnally
4 DR.. Snowden was summoned and took a
number OF stitches in Wenk's left shoul-
/ der and several near the left ear, where
/ he was also badly cut
! At the police station a warrant was
\ issued for all three Of the parties and
| each is charged with disorderly conduct
/ The case win be called In the police court
/ tomorrow morning, although a postpone
ment will he made until the outcome OF
Wenk's injuries are fully determined.
/ At a meeting Of the chamber OF COM
merce held tonight, resolutions were
adopted expressing appreciation Of the
/ movement inaugurated for substantial
highway between this city and Washing
! ton. A committee consisting Of ]. T..
] Johnson, president; J. T. Preston. secre-
tary; J. Y. William. A. D. Brockett. E.
/ S. Leadbeater, w. B. Smoot, and Car
roll Pierce was appointed 70 push the
/ movement.
James EdmOnds. a negro. was arrested
tonight by Policeman Gill; and on the
/ blotter at police headquarters he IS
charged with cruelty to animals. and also
with resisting an officer. 1t is alleged
that Edmonds. when demonstrated with.
attempted TO clean up a number Of en-
( ployes at the plant Of the Mutual Ice
! Company, and that he also attempted 70
strike Policeman Gin with the butt end
OF his whip.
Mrs. Nancy V. Cation. wife OF John O.
Notop died 4hfr r,orrfrD ~ 1,nr ho,na