The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-01-14
BOY
DISAPPEARED
FROM VESSEL
LAST SEEN WHEN PLAYING WITH
PET DOG, AND OFFICERS OF
VESSEL BELIEVE HE FELL INTO
BAY AND DROWNED.

All efforts to locate the body of
young Harold Belcher, 16 years of age,
from London and en- route to Texas
via the British steamship Manchester
Merchant, proved futile yesterday, al
though about every yard Of the slip
was dragged with hook and trawl line
all through the day, the work having
been suspended only at 4 p. m. yes
terday.
The first officer Of the ship at that
hour ordered the work abandoned,
and the only thing now to do, they
said, was to watch for the body to
rise to the surface. The belief is
strong that he fell from the second
floor of the Commandments wharf and
that in his descent, his head struck an
object, rendering him unconscious.
This was the reason, the officers ex-
planned, why he made no outcry.
On account Of the boys disappear
ance and undisputed death, the ship
flew the American flag at half-mast
throughout yesterday. The loss of the
lad was felt keenly, for he had made
himself general favorite with all on
board.
Belcher's father was in London, and
is employed as detective in the not
ed Scotland Yard organization. He
is a man of some means. AT Man
chester the boy boarded the ship, TAX
ing passage from the great English
port for New Orleans. At the Cres-
cent City, where the vessel goes from
Pensacola, the boys uncle, who lives
on a ranch he owns in West Texas,
was to meet the boy and take him to
the ranch. A number of pieces Of
baggage were carried with him, all in
dicating that he was a person Of some
means. He selected the steamer Man
chester Merchant rather than take
advantage Of the large passenger
steamers to the Atlantic ports, be-
cause of the fact that the vessel would
land him at the Crescent City. He
was anticipating the meeting with his
uncle with many pleasures.
When a Journal representative saw
Captain Foales, of the steamer, in his
cabin yesterday at o'clock, the ship
master was writing a lengthy account
of the manner Of the boys death, and
will send this to his parents in Lon
| don. In the boys effects were found
half a dozen letters which had been
written by him, and which were to
have been despatched to their destina-
ton from Pensacola. One of these
was to his father and mother, and was
written only few hours before his
disappearance was noted. 1t was stat
| ed that great stories of the pleasant
| trip were told the old people in the
| old country.
| Capt. Foales regretted the boys fate
| very deeply. When asked something
| of Belcher he was quite free to
tell all he knew of the boys peo-
| pie, but he was at a loss
to know just when and how he had
fallen into the water. He said that
there were men on the ship perhaps
who knew more than he did. The
! man who drew the trawl line over the
ship was about the last man who saw
Belcher alive. He said that the lad
was playing with pet dog ON the
dock, and that the animal and him
seemed to- have been having a fine
time. 1t was the first time he had left
the ship since lines were cast off at
| Manchester, 1or the vessel came direct
to Pensacola, not touching at Mon
treal as usual. AS the sailor talked,
| II could be seen that he felt the bows
| loss much.
| The slip, which is that between Tar
rogana and Commandments wharves.
will be dragged and watched again to-
day, and if the body is recovered it
will be cared for pending advices from
his relatives in Texas. 1t is believed
| that the uncle of the boy will come to