The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-31
!;AS' BOAT
Slump SIZES IN RIVER
>.narfes Z. Hill Loses Life When
Small Graft Runs 4Afoul
Cable.
UNABLE TO AID
Employees ON Drcdge See Acct
dent, but Cannot Help-Two
Companions Rescued.
GRAT

One man was drowned and his bod.
was swept away in the swiftIy-mo wins
current and two others had mar
morning ut o'clock. when rowboa
which they had occupied capsized in
the James River AT the foot OF Denny
Street.
The man who lost his life was
Charles e Hill. nifty years old. cook,
of S11 Louisiana street Those who
escaped were John Jursens, thirty five
years old and Frank Harris, thirty
years OLD. The latter made heroic
effort 10 save Hill. WHO was unable to
swim. but after a five minutes strug-
gle was forced 10 let go OF him, and he
was swept beneath tho surface Of the
greatly swollen river. and his body
has not since been seen.
Harris and Jurgcns were rescued by
George Eurouehty, who lives in a
houseboat on the Chesterfield County
shore and who was nearby in Il skiff.
Hugh McCaulcy. OF ITO Orleans Street
who was also i'm boat, went to the
aid of the drowning mcu but his scr
vices Were not required, Harris and
lurgons having heol safely pulled into
Enroughtys boat, ana Hill had boon
swallowed up in the rushing waters
geveral minutes before.
Hnd Rovcd over for UiII.
The three men we're employed on p
steam drcdge, which is engaged in
depeninS the river channel, and is
anchored opposite the plant OF the
Richmond Cedar Works Harris aud
Jurgens lived aboard the dredre. and
Hill lived at his homo with his wife
and six children
Early yesterday morning Harris and
3urgens rowcd ashore TO take Ilin TO
The dredac. Saturday night the latter
had bought provisions for the sunday
meals, and with these stepped into the
boat with Harris and jurgens
Because of The strong current they
had TO make 4 landing on the far side
OF the drcdEc. ueccssitating the work
OF rowing around It, They did not
know that 10 insure the mornings of
the dredge on account of the food
heavy cable had been stretched from
the port side 10 the shore. The cable.
II was said, WAS Just :, few inches be
low the waters surface. Before they
realized what had happened. the boat
had collidcd with the stout wire rope,
tiltcd slightly, and the flushing water
IN an instant overturned it,
TWO Seized The Cable.
The three men were thrown out Unr-
ris and Jurgeis were successful in
their efforts to grab the cable. but
Hill missed ii. Harris caught Hin and
held him fast for nearly five minutes.
hut with the eNcTtion of saving him
self against the powerful current he
was unable To continue his hold. Hill
IT is believed, was handicapped by
catching his foot In some peculiar man
ner in the cable. Just before En-
roughly. who WAS the first TO see the
struggling men. arrived, llll was lost
TO sight He lost no time in drawing
The other two into his boat, ..nd af-
towards nut thcm aboard the dredge
several persons on the drcdse saw the
drowning, but were powcrloss 10 be Of
aid. The small boat upset nearly nrty
feet away.
several PERSONS on tho shore also
saw the drowning and rescue lIill
had been employed aboard the drodee
as cook since last December and was
vel known in fulton Ie was AT one
time elevator starter in the Mutual
Building.