The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1910-05-20
School Children Lose Lives as
Result Of FTOIlG,
SIX GIRLS AND TWO BOYS
Panic Stricken Girls crasped the Boys
and Chung to Them Desperately
Dragging Two of Them "n-Tour
Others Saved Themselves.


Others Saved Themselves.
Six girls and two boys, members OF
the graduating and junior classes al
the Huntington Mills high school,
fifteen miles from Wilkes-Barre, Pa
lost their lives by drowning IN
mill pond near the school. -Four otneF
boys managed to reach shore and save
themselves. The drowned were all be
tween sixteen and eighteen years OF
age.
The pupils came to the school from
Some distance and carried luncheon.
After they had eaten at noon part!
of the older ones. six girls and SIX
hoys proposed going for row on the
old mill pond. They embarked in TWO
boats. Fifteen minutes later eight o.
/ them were dead.
The victims are; Maud Sutliff, Ruth
Bonham. of Town Line; Caroline
Rooms. of Harveyville; Iris Davenport
Kathleen Good. of Waterton; Rachel
\ Thompson. of Townhill; Robert MINI!
j and liaN llOINOlls VI AAhAAfA+arN
The four survivors. George Dodson,
Uriah Weitzel. Jay Rooms and Harold
Rel. tell confused story. They wen
TO the water in couples. At the side o.
; the dam they got two small rowboat'
!, and three bows and three girls crowd
ed into each. There was much frollch
ing and laughter as the boats pushed
off side by side. The girls teased each
other and the boys about their com
panions There was much splashlng Oh
the water with the oars. and some oi
the party used their hands and tire"
water on he others.
In 9ne boat. where the boys and
girls we're having a Jolly time boy
got up to change his seat. Who II was
the survivors do not remember. TheN
S have an idea that perhaps two OF
1 three of the boys stood up at the same
/ time The boat rocked somewhat. the
T girls shrieked. and the boy rocked the
=. boat a little more II dipped some wa
ter. and the girls, thoroughly alarmed.
sprang up The next instant the boat
overturned and all six were in the
S water. with chorus Of screams Tor
y help.
r The other boat only a few yards
It away. reached the six struggling ID
q the water with a half dozen strokes O.
- the oars. Those in the boat were ap
parently as excited as those in the
water. Those in the boat reached ou'
to get their playmates. those IN the
water seized the sides Of the boat and
tried to scramble in. Their weight on
! the gunwales pulled the boat beneath
the water or they upset it while trying
10 climb in. Whatever happened. hap
D. pened quickly. for the second boat was
barely among those struggling In the
water before its six inmates were also
overheard.
The four survivors say that theI
: there was an overwhelming confusion
Some girls grabbed them. they seize'
some of the girls. All the boys couil
swim. and all apparently made an ei
fort to save some of the others. Fren
N zied as all we're. however. the girl
clung TO them wherever they coul'
seize them. some around the neck
some around the bodies. The suryi'
es ors. who broke away after being drae
-. eed down. saw a group Of four al
" clinging together.
l. Each Of the boys who escaped tell
of being dragged down by the girls o
is other boys and fighting to get away
ut and each reached the shore after
desperate struggle to save his ow
Fl life. Apparently there were no Gov
Tx ards. The survivors saved themselve
It only when it was impossible to say
as others and saved themselves with a
e effort. They reached the shore so e.
=, bausted that It was some minutes b.
or fore they had strength to drag then
We selves to the road and shout for hel
to The bodies were recovered. Near
every victim was clasped in deaf
ad embrace about some other one.
re Robert Minnick. one of the browne
i'd bows. was the particular hero OF II
lal occasion. In the confusion he mr.
rs swan to shore and then, seeing II
so girle we're in the water. he struck Of
10 y for the middle Of the pond again ar
nj was drowned while endeavoring to re
cue the girls.