Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-18
DROWNED IN EFFORT
TO SAVE HIS COUSIN
FROM SIMILAR FATE
Sad Double Tragedy in Sussex
County MilIpond Stirred the
Community.
ONE BODY WAS RECOVERED

SF'Sttf correspondence Every fN1hiN
seaford. July 1S.-Fleetwood's mill
pond. about seven miles east of Sea-
ford. was the scene of an unfortunate
double drowning accident, yesterday
AFTERNOON. when Francis Fleetwood,
2i year old, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Hor-
ace Fleetwood. of that neighborhood
and Waples Johnson. his cousin. son
of Mrs. Jennie Johnson of Georgetown.
were drowned while bathing in the
pond. Johnson. who could not swim
very well, got beyond his depth, and
his calls for help. brought his COM
panion, Fleetwood who in attempting
to save his cousin, lost his life also
The news ~ the double drowning
spread like wildnre all over the sec
tion where il happened and into Sea
ford and Blades. with the result that
hundreds of persons were soon on the
scene. lining the banks Of the pond.
while graphing for the young mems
bodies was going on. Scores return
ing from oak Orchard, Rehoboth
Beach and other resorts also stopped
at the scene.
The body of Fleetwood was found
shortly before dark. hut up until
late hour last night the body of his
companion had not been found.
r1eetwood's father is former re-
ceivur Of taxes of Sussex county
johnson is a graduate Of the George
town high school class Of 1921. and
was recently married At Elkton. Md.
10 young woman member Of the
class. he was about y years old,
johnson was a long distance runner
and won the mile race at the Sussex
county athletic meet at Georgetown
in May.
saved Ry Two Brave Boys.
cactt shncklcy and Walter "Bayne"
Nevins. tw,p Scaford boys, about Il
years of age. made a daring rescue.
SATURDAY afternoon. of the quarter
master II the steamc. Avalon. Nanu-
coke river line boat plying between
scsford and Baltimore. belonging TO
the Baltimore. Chesapeake and Allan
tic Railway 20.
the steamer had been chartered by
st. Johns NJ. r. sunday school for its
annual excursion down the Nanticoke
river TO sandy Hill Md, and left Sea
ford AZ 70 o'clock with capacity
crowd Of SEQ eXcursionists aboard
shortly after arriving at Sandy Hill,
the Quartcrmas a new man on the
huat, whose name could not be ascer-
taincd. was seen To jump into the
river in his hathing suit. The excur-
sionists watched him swim out into
the middle nf the river from the boat,
and suddenly throw up his hands and
call for help.
Sho, kley and Nevins, both expert
swimmers. jumped from the boat, hav-
fng put their bathing suits on some
time previous TO this. and swain hur-
riediy toward the drowning man. In
fhe meantime several members Of the
crew Jumped into the river TO so tot
their fellow Officers assistance.
shockley was the first TO reach the
man. who had already
zone down once. As Shockley neared
him he called to the man not 10 grab
him and ne would save him. The Of
ac.r oh.yed and Shockley ran his
hands under his arm pits. BY this
titne Nevins arrived. While this was
going on officers OF the steamer got
a life. boat lowered and hurried 10 the
drowning mans aid. Shockley and
NeVins kept the mans head above
water until the lifeboat arrived, when
ne was taken TO the steamer where
a.. was resusticatsd.
When th.. quarternaster reached the
middle Of the river he was seized with
cramps md would have drowned quick
Ia had not help arrived.
sshockley also saved the lie OF MISS
Aaala yanSant. daughter Of Mr.. and
Mrs Andrew NanSant OF tins town.
ON. ~ the excursionists by pulling her
out of q deep man hole IN the riVtf.
whua the rescue o. the quarter
,,,.st,.r was going on the excursionists
90 officers IL the steamer looked on
with breathless amazement, loualy
cheering the rescuers after the man
l-.I