The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-13
-..'"y III
the Tragedy
BOYS MAKE BRAVE FIGHT
TO SAVE LIVES Of GIRLS
Story of Survivors Tells of Wild Fear
of the Young Girls Who Lose
Presence of Mind aud Meet
Death Quietly

Wilkesbarre. Pa, May 12.-Eight high
school students, six girls and two boys.
lost their lives today while out boating
on what is known as the Old Paper Mill
dam at Huntington mills. about twenty
miles below this city.
The dead:
Maud sutiffe, aged II, OF Town Line
Carolyn Koonz, aged 16 years, Harvey-
vile.
Ruth Bonham. 10 years. Town Line.
Iris Davenport. aged 16 years, Water
town
Rachael Thompson, aged 16 years, Town
HILL
Madeline Good, aged II years, Water
town
Robert Minnich. aged II years, Fair
mont.
Ray Dodson, aged II years, Farmont.
Twelve students of the Huntington high
school obtained two boats at the noon
hour and started for a row above the
DAM Tho dam is nearly half mile in
width. and when the two craft had
reached the center of the body of water
it was noticed that one of them had
pulled together by the young men in the
party and an effort was being made to
transfer the girls from the leaking boat
to the water tight craft. The last one of
the party had scarcely set foot in the
boat when it began to sink owing to the
combined weight of the party.
The girls were helpless to save them
selves and the boys Of the party, with
the exception of Dodson. being expert
swimmers, struck out for the shore,
which all reached in safety.
Mnnich in the excitement IL is pre-
sumed, thought that all the young women
had succeeded in reaching land. He had
no sooner gained the bank th-n he no.
ticed the girls hanging to the rapidly
sinking boat.
The boy dashed into the water and
swan swiftly to the water-flled craft.
Only two of the girls were clinging to
the boat, the others having gone down
for the last time.
Seizing Miss Davenport Minnich again
started for the shore. but the exertion
was too great for the gallant lad and
both went down together when they were
within a stone throw OF the bank.
All OF the bodies were recovered
The stories told by the four survivors
George Dodson. Uriah Weitzell. jay
Rooms and Harold Bell, all of Hunting
ton Mills. and between 16 and IS years
old. are somewhat confused The two
boats pushed Off together. Three boys
and three girls were in each. and as the
boats were small fishing punts, they
were overloaded.
There was much frolicking Girls and
boys splashed water on each other and
as this pastme became brisker the boats
separated. Water began to come into
one of the boats, whether from a crack
! III the craft or from dipping over the
sides is not known.
The second boat was perhaps 20 Yards
away. and before the first boat had up-
set the rowers In the second had started
their boat toward 1t. fearful OF what was
to occur.
1t was only a few seconds before the
second boat alongside the sinking
craft and before all could be taken on
the other boat was upset and me 1e
were in the pond struggling for their
lives.
The four survivors say that girls and
hoys grasped each other in their panic
All the boys could swim and when Min
rich reioined the other fve each made
gallant effort to save some one. They
apparently seized those nearest. and in
few seconds there were several strug-
Cling. shrieking groups.
The boys who escaped say they were
dragged down by the weight of the girls
who clung to their bodies grasping
wherever they could. and they had to
fight hard to escape