New-York tribune., 1910-05-25
THREE Of FIVE BOY
DATHERS LOSE LIVES
Lark on Raft in James Slip Ends
in Tragedy When Little Fel-
lows Plunge Into River.
TWO BROTHERS RESCUED
Do Not Know Lost Companions,
They Say-Women on Their
Knees Implore Men to
Dive for Bodies.

The capsizing Of small raft in the
James Slip last night was responsibis
for the drowning of three little Italian
boys and the narrow escape of two
others. who were dragged from the water
unconscious. The latter were two
brothers-Antonio Cartolo. seven years
old, and Joseph. five years The identity
of the three who met death In the river
was not learned. as the rescued young
sters were suffering from shock and the
effects of submersion. There was great
excitement when the news of the drown
ing spread around in the Italian quarter.
and the reserves from two stations were
called out.
Shortly after o'clock last night the
two little CartoI boys. who live at No.
us Cherry street, accompanied by three
young playmates. went down to James
Slip, which was formerly used as the Old
Slip ferry house, to take a swim. The
had a hard time climbing over it. Some
longshoremen lettering around pulled
them across.
Quickly slipping off their clothes. the
boys boarded a roughly constructed raft
and started out toward the end of the
pier. in order to swim into the slip. The
tide was just on the ebb. and as ths
youngsters neared the end Of the bulk
head the raft capsized. When it righted
#
the Cartolo brothers Just managed to
reach a loose plank
Michael Lacy, fifteen years old, of No.
IS James Slip. and John McGrath, six
teen years old. of No. 319 Water street,
who were near by at the time looking for
floating wood, realizing the danger of the
youngsters, and not being able TO swim
themselves began to shout for help
James Burke, of No. 129 Beekman
street. and Edward Murphy. of No loo
Park Place, both longshoremen, at
tracted by the cries of the youngsters.
got over the fence. plunged into the
water and started for the two boys. who
seemed to be unable to swim. Joseph
and Antonio We're limp when the long
They were working 'over the boys when
PatrolInan Albert Smith, of the Oak
street station. arrived few minutes
later He sent hurry call to St Greg
ory's Hospital. A physician from the IN
stitution revived them and they were
taken to the Oak street station
The report that three boys had been
drowned spread like wi1dhre. and in a
few minutes James Slip was packed with
hundreds of men and women Several
women. who said they had not seen their
boys since their return from school. and
who feared that they were among those
who were lost in the river actually fell
to their knees and pleaded with the hum
dreds of men who had gathered at the
slip to try to recover the drowning boys.
So thick did the crowd become that
the big fence about the slip was almost
pushed down. and many persons barely
escaped being thrown into the water.
Lieutenant Mccarthy. of the Oak
street station, sent Sergeant Callaghan
and ten men to the pier TO preserve or
der. Harbor Squad A, in command of
MuIhall. who arrived soon
afterward. grappled about the place the
boys were last seen, but up to late
hour only the shirts and pair OF trous-
ers, presumably belonging to the boys.
were recovered. The police were having
much difficulty in making any progress
i'm recovering the bodies because of the
in the old slip.
According TO the story told by young
Joseph and his brother. Antonio. the
five boys had just reached the end of the
buIkhead and were about TO go over
board when the leader, who was only
known to them as Jimmie" lost his
footing. In going overheard. according
TO young Joseph Cartoli. one of the other
boys was about to grab him SO that
they could all go in the water at the
same time. As he did so. young Joseph
said that the raft turned over and the
Ave were thrown into the water Up to
a late hour this morning none Of -
boys bodies had been recovered
The police believe that the three boys
lost were caught under the raft and
drowned before they had recovered from
he fright induced by their sudden and
plunge.