The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-08-23
ACCOUNT OF DEATH OF
JOHN J. PURCELL
Fine Young Man Meets With Tragic
Death-Creat Shock to Family
and Friends.

Union Progress, 18th.
The sudden death by drowning Of
MIR. John J.. Purcell was received il
Union on Sunday about 1 O'Clock
from Tarboro, N. G., by long dis
tance telephone and this sad inteli
gence has brought much sorrow tt
the many friends of this young man
Mr.. Purcell with party ot
friends had gone to Tar river te
spend a few hours Of recreation or
Sunday mornir g -and shortly aftel
arrival at. the river went in wadins
in what was supposed to be shallow
water. Mr.. Purcell, with friend
waded about 800 yards from the
other, parties and in some way step
ped into a hole about 80 feet deer
and Immediately sank as neither Of
them could swim, but the young mar
with Mr.. Purcell was able to get out
of the hole. Mr.. Purcell sustained 6
slight scratch on his lip, and bruise
on his nose.
Mr.. Purcell is a son of the late
Mr.. John, J. Purcell and Mrs. Mary
E. Purcell and was young man OF
exceptionally fine character, being re-
garded' most highly BY all who knew
him. He was 22 years Of age anG
had an unusually bright future be.
fore him as he was regarded as 9
fine young business man and expert
bookkeeper and stenographer.
Mr.. Purcell held. a, position as
bookkeeper and stenographer for the
Pender Hardware company of Tar.
boro and before taking this position
he was for several years stenographel
in the Union-Bufalo Mifis Office here
Shortly after receiving 1.-The ? news
of. the sudden death of Mr.. Purcell
his sister, Miss Nell q. Purcell and
MIR. James Purcell Of Roxboro, N. c.,
went to Tarboro and accompanied
the remains, which were brought to
Union yesterday ons the noon day
train. Also there were two friends
one representing the Jr. O. U. A.
and the Pender Hardware company,
and the other representing the camp
ing party of which Mr.. Purcell was
a member.
The beautifully Z expressed -teie-
grams and letters that hare been re-
ceived by the family 4fro1s Tarboro,
N. c., and other places shows in a
measure the high regard in which this
young man was held by all who knew
him. Every attention possible was
shown to him andA the: members of
the family by the friends in Tarboro.
). The funeral services were conduct
ed at the home of Mr.. Purcell's moth
er on Pinckney street at 5 80 o'clock
and the interment was made in Rose
mont cemetery, the services being
conducted by Father Murphy, and
was especially sweet, the hymns used
at the home being "Jesus- Saviour
Pilot Me" and "Abide With Me-"
and at the grave "Shall We Gather
at the River?" The music was fur
nished by a quartette consisting of
.Msssrs. Carl Willard, C. M. Haw-
Aas, S. ], Harris and W. W. Goforth,
these being friends with whom Mr..
Purcell sang when in Union, he hav-
ing an especially fine tenor voice.
The floral designs were many and
beautiful, many of them being sent
from Tarboro where Mr.. Purcell has
recently made his home.
Mr.. Purcell is survived by his
mother, Mrs. Mary E. Purcell, and
the following brothers and sisters:
Mrs. Alice Byers of Atlanta, Miss
Nell z. Purcell, Mr.. James Purcell,
Mr.. Charles Purcell, Miss Louise Pur-
cell, Mr.. Eddie Purcell and Misses
Elizabeth, Catherine and Margaret
Purcell, who all haye the sincerest
sympathy of their many friends in
this hour of sorrow that has come to
them.
The pallbearers were: Messrs.
Aubrey holland, Foster Howell, En-
mon Israel, James Roberts, Douglass
Smith and Earle Harris.