The Washington herald., 1912-09-18
BRING MATES BODY
HERE FOR BURIAL
Widow Of W. E. Negus, Drowned
in Chicago, Tells Sad Tale
Of Life.
DEAD GUNNER Is BLAMED

The body Of Chief Gunner's Mate WILL
lam E. Negus, of the naval training sta
ton at North Chicago who was drowned
In the waters Of Lake Michigan last SUM-
day, together with eight young recruits
| following the capsizing of a sailing cut
ter. will leave North Chicago at 12:45
| o'clock this afternoon for Washington.
where interment will be made.
Mrs. Fannie Bolton Negus. the pretty
young wife of the Inflated officer, is now
at the home OF her parents. Mr.. and
Mrs. Benjamin Bolton, 1905 X Street
Southeast Last night she received a
telegram to the effect that the body
would leave for Washington this after
noon. Fred Negus. of Attleboro, Mass.
a brother of the naval officer, was desir-
Gus OF having the body conveyed to the
Massachusetts, town for burial. but the
widow would not give her consent. She
felt that she was unable to make the
trip North in view of the shock expe-
rienced upon receiving news Of the
drowning, SO ordered the body sent to
Washington.
The remains are expected to reach the
city tomorrow morning. They will be
met at Union Station by representatives
VI tHt lIII VI lHOIIldS H. Many q CoIls
funeral directors, 1c31 Eleventh Street
Southeast Funeral services will prob
ably be held tomorrow afternoon, al
though this depends entirely upon the
time of the arrival of the body. Inter-
ment will be in Congressional Cemetery.
The pallbearers will be selected from
associates of Negus in the gunners' mate
class at the Navy Yard.
Widows Sad Story.
Dressed in her widows weeds and hold
ing her two-year-old girl in her lap. Mrs.
Negus last night. at the home of her
parents, told the sad story of her life.
As she recalled the numerous sorrows
which had befallen her during the past
few years, IT was only with difficulty
that she succeeded In keeping back the
tear drops which lurked in the corners
OF her large sad eyes.
1T was just about four years ago that
met William and fell in love with him.
He was at the Navy Yard then, and
boarded in 1 Street just across from
where We were living then.
About two years ago / met Albert
Burke. a young man from Pennsylvania
and fell in love with him. almost for
gettin my first love. After but a short
acquaintance We were married. Then
little Bertha. my daughter. was born.
MY HusDdNQ anu L llNtu hOBelHtT IOT d
short time, but finally separated. I re-
turning to the home of my parents. Last
January Mr.. Burke died.
Marie. First Love.
Then 1 began to think again Of my
first love. At last my dreams were re-
allied. He came back; we were united
again. and before long We were planning
for our marriage. on April We were
married in the Baptist parsonage at
Lake Bluff, Ill.
II saw William last on July q, when !
left with my little girl on visit to my
parents. l have been at their house ever
since. William was to have Joined me
here on the 9TH of this month, and then
We were to have gone TO Philadelphia
for several months.
Just before left my husband to come
to Washington he told me that his moth
er lost her life by drowning. He said
that when he was a little baby, she
was walking out on a pier on the coast
OF Massachusetts, carrying him In her
arms. when suddenly as IL stricken by
some unseen force she toppled into the
foaming water. taking her baby with her
close to her breast. Persons were near
at hand and put out to save her. She
struggled with the waves, holding the
babe high above her head. The babe was
saved.
Twelve Years in Service.
Young Negus had been in the naval
service for twelve years. About nine
years ago he was on the battleship Ala
bama, serving there with Master-at-
Arms Lynch, who notified the young
widow Monday evening of the drowning
of her husband. For a time Negus was
stationed in Washington. Shortly before
his marriage he was assigned to duty at
North Chicago.
Fred Negus, the brother, has tele-
graphed that he will be here to attend
the funeral. Mamie Negus. of Dighton.
Mass. sister of the young naval officer.
will also probably attend. Negus was
born at Dighton. Mr. Bolton. father of
the widow. is a bank Waterman.
Responsibility for the drowning OF the
eight naval recruits Is formally placed
upon Negus oy Capt. William F. Full
lam, in charge of the training station.
in a report made to the Navy Depart
mcnt yesterday. Negus was drowned.
however. while herocially attempting to
save those apprentices who could not
swim.
The blame is placed on him because
of the fact that he is said to have taken
apprentices out sailing at
their request without obtaining permits
sion to use the cutter for the purpose.
Negus is said to have made every pos
sible effort to insure the safety OF the
boat and all on board. Being unable
because of the wind to make a landing.
he ran into shoal water. thinking that
he could get the recruits safely ashore |
from that point 1t soon developed that
he had cast anchor on a sand bar. and |
instead of finding a shelving bottom to- |
ward the shore. deep water was en-
countered. 1t was this circumstance
which caused the drownings. |