Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-12
TWO CHILDREN WERE
VICTIMS OF STORM
Perished From Exposure of Ter
rible Night on the Raging
Chesapeake Bay.
snoci.l 1,orrosnnndcncc Of Evcrv Evening

SrerfaI CorreSpondcucc of Every Evening
Laurel April 12.-Two children OF
CAPTAIN Vernon T. Wright OF Bethel,
rear Laurel, lost their hives from cN-
posure. and three mon ard woman
narrowly escaped death du1ng The gale
which swept up the Chesapeake ucs-
dav. after n five hour battle agMnSt The
waves in an open boat, which capSlzcd
with its cargo Of two men n woman and
two children The party WAS landed at
Rock Creek. Wednesday at noon, the
children dead the woman unconscious
and the men utterly exhausted That
all did not perish Is accredited to l2-ycar
old William Meek Of Rock Greek, who
went 10 their rescue in an open boat
while the storm was ut it's height The
names Of the dead children are. Floyd
Wright. ninc wears old, and Caroline
Wright, two years old.
Following an inquest which WAS con
ductcd yesterday afternoon IN the home
al John Ncidcrt. nj Rock Creek. whore
the party was taken, a verdict that the
children came to Their death from exposure
was rendered by Coroner John f. Puttee
and Or Thomas Il. Horton. ot Curtis
Bay
The story OF the tragedy was gwen at
the inquest by Captain Wright rs follows:
The barge NoccaSln which was con
signed To the navy ward ~ Portsmouth,
was loaded with 1000 tons or gravel and
cleared AZ Spring Gardens wharf Tuesday
morning The trip was uncventtui until
about 30 clock, when due To the high
waves. the barge. which was under tow
by the tug Caroline, Captain Raymond
Iandon, became cntangled m the towing
cable. and was cut loose bv Captain
I N-v,vL+
the barge ran aground almost immediately
after being abandoned, and that the
night spent hy him. his wife and children
and Samuel f. Mason. the mate, was one
of the utmost mIScry and hcipcSsncSS
At : o'clock Wednesday morning Il was
decided to abandon he barge, the party
taking 10 the hieboat When less than
a nHle away from the barge, the boat
capSizcd Captain Wright and Mason
rChted the boat and went 10 the rescue
ot Mrs Wright and the children A;tcr
several minutes they managed 70 get
them into the craft. although i was more
than hah-full Of water
The oars had been lost and the small
craft was tossed about by tho high waves
with the occupants sitting m the water
helpless The children having suffered
greatly from exposure, were UNCONSCIOUS,
and an aftCNpt 10 revive thcIE IN al'i-
tici.l respiration was made by Captain
Wright and his mate This was continued
for tivc hours without success
The boat being hl,tfCtCd about III the
water. was sighted some time later by
James Ncwkirk al the barge Lynn Eavcn,
which was anchored Of Rock Creek
Newkirk. il Is stated asked permission 81
his captain TO attempt 10 save the party,
but was refused. because If the danger m
combating the sca in small buat.
I nable to restrain himself longer. Ncwkirk
left the LINN Haven d lew minutes later
and started for tho boat IN a small Sklft
After hard battle b. reached the Wrgh |
boat but was 50 exhausted tina; he was
unable 10 render any assistance.
About this time Meek espicd the en-
tdangered party from he shore He brave
~ set out IN = small skItf and after Il hard
night managed TO reach them Through
the combined efforts oi the BOY and men
the party was landed and taken 10 the
Neibert home The children died a
few minutes before reaching the shore
Mrs Wright was unconscious and
I Captain Wright. Mason and Newkirk
in d seIni-conscious condition Dr.. Thon-
as Il Phillips of Chelsea Heights,
formerly of Bethel and friend of the
virgins. was summoned and later took
the party to his home, where they spen;
the night The bodies OF the children
were removed TO Bethel. Yesterday
where the funeral viii be held.