The Washington herald., 1911-06-03
BOY IS DROWNED
IN 4 DEEP HOLE;
OTHERS NEAR BY
Companions Take Clothes
Home to Mother.
FAIL TO RESCUE LAD
FAIL TO RESCUE LAD

Caught in deep hole while bath
ing in the Potomac River, between
the railroad and highway bridges,
on the Virginia side, Charles Hud-
son, ten years old. only son of Al
bert M. c. Hudson, a real estate
dealer of 816 Fifteenth street north
west, was drowned late yesterday
afternoon within sight of four COM
panions and several men, who were
powerless to rescue him. r.
MOTHER NOTIFIED.
Less than an hour later the boys
mother, worried because he had not come
home for dinner. was sitting in her
window watching for him when she saw
two small boys carrying wet clothing
hurrying in the direction Of her house
Mrs. Hudson instantly recognized gar
ments that her son had worn when she
saw him last. She raised the window
and asked. What's become Of Charlie?'
Charles drowned" was all the small
boys could say. Mrs. Hudson, gathering
all her courage. hastened to hear their
story.
In the meanwhile the Maj. Sylvester
the police launch, with a full crew, went
to the spot where the boy was seen to
go down. and after dragging the river
for a short time succeeded in recovering
the body about $50 o'clock
According to the story Of Chandler Sis
more. 453 c street northwest. and James
Dennis, lsi Sixth street southwest. the
two small boys who notified Mrs Hudson,
Charles was bathing with several others
on the Virginia side Of the river, merely
padding about In the water, as none of
the boys knew how to swim.
Suddenly. Charles shouted and disap-
peared under the surface. Upon coming
to the surface he cried Justify for help,
while the boys ran frantically about the
edge Of the water, not daring to attempt
to save him. ---.
Thought 1t Was Joke.
Several men in a rowboat heard the
drowning boys cries. but thinking the
boys were merely playing a Joke, paid
no attention to them.
Charles sank for a third time after
struggling vainly for his life. At that
time, the men in the rowboat, think
ing that something might have happened.
went to the scene and attempted to re-
cover the body without success. He had
stepped in hole and got beyond his
depth, as the shore is exceedingly
treacherous.
Picking up their companions clothing,
the boys hurried to the city. where they
notified, the first policeman they saw,
and then went directly to the home.
. When members of the family were
seen last night they said Charles, who
was in the fifth grade Of the Franklin
School, came home at the usual hour
after school with some boys and asked
his mother II he might go to the Monu-
ment grounds to play baseball. His
mother had repeatedly warned him never
to go near the river, as he had met with
several severe accidents in late years
and was Of reckless disposition. Mrs.
Hudson told her son he might go If he
promised to come home promptly at 6
o'clock. g.
- Went to Play Ball.
The boys went to the Monument
grounds, where they played about for a
short time, until one OF them suggest
ed they 60 in bathing. Then the boys
walked across the Highway Bridge to
the Virginia side, where they soon
stripped and went in bathing.
Charles was a popular boy with his
classmates and teacher, Miss Moore. who
spoke highly of him.
Mr.. Hudson was in Clarksburg, w. Va,
and was notified last night by telephone
that his son was drowned. He wired that
he would arrive in Washington at
o'clock this morning. Coroner Nevitt is
sued certificate Of death by accidental
drowning.
About two years ago. the little Hud-
son boy was run over by sightseeing
automobile in Pennsylvania avenue and
taken to the Emergency Hospital suffer-
ing from q painful injury to his leg.
Seized with cramps while swimming in
the Potomac River at the foot of Third
street southeast, Leroy Jackson. a negro,
ten years old, of 1912 Second street
southeast, was drowned before aid could
reach him.
He was swimming with ten other boys
and had been in the water about an hour
when he was seen to throw up his hands
and call for help. The body was re-
covered by the police and sent to The