The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-10-23
FOUND IN MARSH
". 4. LANGLEY, UNITED STATES
SOLDIER DROWNED
near mount PLEASANT
Member Of the United States Coast
ArtiIlerman for Whom the Officers
Have Been Searching is Believed
to Have Fallen from Wharf on Fri
day Night.

The News and Courier Of Thursday
says: While passing Hog Island
near Mount Pleasant, wednesday
morning in his boat, Capt. Robert c.
Magwood found the body Of William
H. Langley, a soldier attached to the
18th company of coast artillery, ly-
ing face downward in the marsh
He recovered the corpse, and took it
to Mount Pleasant, where it was az
forwards identified by officials Of the
Island post. The details Of how
Langley met his death are unknown,
but it is thought that he accidentally
fell overheard and vas drowned.
Deputy Coroner DeVeaux, who is
investigating the case, said Wednes-
day night that, according to informa-
ton received by him, Langley was
granted leave Of absence from the
post Thursday night or Friday morn
ing, and that he had come to the c1-
ty to spend the time.
AS far as the Investigation has
gone, he was last seen alive when he
left Frierson's drug store, on King
street, Friday night. What happen
ed to him after he left the drug store
is not known. 1t is thought that he
started back for the barracks, and
that while waiting on the Govern
ment wharf for the posts boat to re-
turn, he fell overheard, and was
drowned before help could reach him.
If such is the case no one has yet
been found who heard the cries OF
the man for help.
When Langley failed to put in an
appearance at the post, after his
twenty-four hours leave Of absen"e
had expired, he was entered upon the
books by the Fort Moultrie officials
as having deserted. This is in accord
ance with the army regulations,
whenever soldier overstays his time
without permission. Despite the fact
a search was Immediately begun by
the officers, no clue to the where
abouts of Langley could be found
anywhere.
Wednesday morning Capt. Mag
wood, of Mount Pleasant, who was
out in his boat, saw the corpse OF a
white man lying In the marsh with
the face down. Capt. Magwood saw
that the body was that of a soldier by
the uniform that the man wore. The
body was lifted into the boat and TAX
er. to Mount Pleasant, where an ex-
animation revealed the fact that he
was member OF the 18th company.
The army officials at Fort Moul-
trie were notified at once by Magis-
trate Hamlin. Several officers were
dispatched to Mount Pleasant, and
identified the body as that OF Lang
ley. The body was later brought to
the city by the J. NJ. Connolly Com
pany, which prepared the remains OF
the unfortunate soldier for shipment
to his relatives in Tennessee.
Deputy Coroner DeVeau1 viewed
the body Wednesday and had two
physicians hold a post mortem e1-
animation. The physicians announc-
ed, after the examination, that Lang
ley's death was caused by drowning.
There were no signs Of foul play and
a verdict of accidental drowning will
probably be returned Thursday morn
ing, when the official inquest will be
held.
Langley bore a good reputation
among his fellow soldiers, and was
popular with all the men at the post.
He was about % years old, and was
listed as a mechanic in the 18th COM
nany He is unmarried, and has been
ir the serviceeabout five years. His
home is in Tennessee, where the body
was ShipDed.