Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-01-25
Distressing Tragedy Near Bakerton.

early Tuesday morning in the Potomac
river just below Knott's old limestone
quarries, four or five miles east of Shop
herdstown, when the lives of three Mary
land men were lost in the brief space OF
moment or two. The victims of the
unfortunate tragedy were William S.
Grim, aged 40 years, his son, Raymond
Grim, aged 10 years, and Richard Show,
aged "a years. All of the men were en-
ployed at The Bakerton lime works on
the Virginia side of the river. They lived
back Of the hill or little mountain that
rises at the river and runs back north
ward into Maryland.
lthas been the custom OF the Maryland
workmen who are employed at Bakerton
TO gather at the river in the early morning
and 60 across the stream in sklffs. The
river has been frozen over since last
week, and the men had made channel
through the ice, barely wide enough for
the passage OF their boats. Early Tues
day morning-about o'clock-while it
was yet dark, number OF the men as
usual got in their skiffs TO make their way
across the water. William Grim and his
two sons, Raymond and Jesse. and Rich
ard Show led the way in skiff, and were
followed closely by another boat in which
were four or five other men. They had
gotten almost 10 the Virginia shore when
the field OF ice that extended up stream
broke loose and was carried forward by
the rising waters OF the stream, closing
the channel and crushing the little skiif.
Jesse Grim jumped and somehow man
aged 10 keep above the ice and water,
but the three other occupants were drawn
under the icy flood. Their cries for help
were heard by others, but no help could
be given and in the darkness that comes
just before dawn they sank in the gloomy
waters.
A second boat that was following close
ly was caught in the ice jam also, but
it was not damaged quite so much as
the other. II began 10 fill with water,
but the men in il did the best they could
TO keep it afloat by baiing with their din
ner buckets. Their danger was immi-
nent also, but they managed to hold out
an oar 10 Jesse Grim, who grasped it and
was taken in with them. Their shouts
were heard by other workmen who had
gathered on the Maryland shore, and a
third boat went out and reached the sink
ing skiff in time to save them. Their es-
cape from drowning was by very close
margin.
The news OF the disaster was soon
spread on both sides of the river-many
persons on either shore had heard the
shouts of the men and their thrilling cries
for help-and by daylight large number
had gathered at the scene. The river
was rising rapidly and The stream was
swift, but as soon as the ice ceased to be
dangerous men in boats got graphing
irons and dragged the bottom 1.-THE river
for the bodies. About half-past l2o'clock
Raymond Grim'S body was recovered
and was later taken to the home beyond
the hill. Then the ice began TO run again,
and operations had TO be deferred for a
time. Between two and three O'Clock
the body OF Richard Show was found in
the same manner and was taken TO Mary
land. Both bodies were found just about
where the boat had been sunk. The ice
began 10 run again, and the boats had TO
leave the channel Wednesday morning
as soon as il was safe TO work, operations
were resumed, and about 230 O'Clock
the body OF the third victim, William
Grim, was caught by the graphing hooks
and taken ashore. Later it was taken to
the Grim home, where il was laid beside
that OF The son whose remains were al
ready there.
All of the men who lost their lives
were industrious and well thought OF,
and their tragic death caused great sor-
row in the community. Richard Show
is survived by his wife and three young
children, two boys and girl. William
Grim leaves widow and eight children,
four sons and four daughters. Raymond,
who lost his life with him, was his Oldest
son.
The funeral service for all three OF the
victims off the drowning will be held today
at the Manor Church, near the scene OF
the disaster, and they will be buried in
the graveyard there.
More than a hundred men whose
homes are in Maryland are employed al
the Bakerton works, and most OF them
cross the river in boats morning and
evening. The river seldom gets too high
for them to risk the crossing and as they
are expert boatmen they occasionally
take long chances in going TO and from
their work. During the short winter days
some of them 60 TO work before daylight
in the morning and others cross after dark
ness comes in the evening, but they carry
lanterns and the waters have not deferred
them. During the twenty years and
more that they have been engaged in this
practice they have never before had
fatal accident at this crossing. There is
genuine sorrow that the long record OF
good fortune has been broken and that
the little mountain homes have been
plunged into such overwhelming grief