Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-04-14

The lives of five members OF the
family of Capt. William Lawrence
were snuffed out in the chilly waters
of the Potomac between . ana .
O'clock this morning during the
nrogress of severe. rain wind and
electrial storm, when the schooner on
which they were asleep, was capslzeu
as the elements ragged. Only twI
remain to tell the tale of the evnttu'
Good Friday morning and they are
Can't. Lawrence. about forty-elght
wears old. and his son, Carroll Law
renee. nineteen years old They
were saved by clinging to the mast
head of the small two-master KIM
NELL.
Those drowned are the wife Of
Can't. Lawrence and his five children
one daughter and four sons. They
follow;
Mrs. Gertrude Lawrence, forty-fve
years old. ..-
years old, daughter.
Archie Lawrence. sixteen years
old.
Calvin Lawrence, ten years old.
Mvril Lawrence. seven years Old.
The little schooner was anchored
near the channel between Jones Point
and Fort Foote, on the Maryland side
of the river. 1t was loaded %lth
furniture. The furniture belonged TO
the family who were moving from
their home at New Alexandria
Fairfax county, south of Alexandria
and were going to locate at Machodoe
Creek. WestmOreland County, Va.
Capt. Lawrence and his son arose
early, being aroused by the heavy
storm and they were on the lookout
10 see that everything was in order,
the schooner being anchored. His
son acted as mate. The elements
were at their worst and the schooner
rocked to and fro and the anchor
seemed a mere paper weight. The
wind increased in velocity and the
storm continued it's fury unabated.
Realizing that the schooner soon
might be capSized, Can't. Lawrence
said that he cried tn his wife and
children to get up. all being asleep
in their hunks at the time. 1t was
only a few minutes after he gave
the warning that the schooner was
overturned. They were caught like
rats in a trap and soon the victims
were buried in the Potomac,
Capt. Lawrence and his son Car
roll as the craft careened. stuck to
tho masthead of the little craft and
they clung tenaciously for abou;
fortv-five minutes when both were
rescued bv Capt Freedrick POSey, OF
the steamer Southland from Norfolk
enroute TO Washington and pl@ced
board that boat and Immediately
taken TO Washington. Neither an
peared to have suffered any Ill ett'
fects from their narrowing expert
ence. although both were well n'gh'
exhausted when they were taker
aboard the steamer.
After arriving in Washington Capt
Lawrence and his son went to tn'
harbormaster's Office and later IN th'
day came down in the harbor police
boat and helped the harbor official:
search for the bodies of his family
Capt. Lawrence stated this morn
ing that ne has been on the river tol
many wears and the storm was on'
of the worst he ever witnessed in hi'
life.
He also said thar ne lost everything
he possessed in the world. Capt
Lawrence is a native of Some"se
County, Va
Tho news of the tragedy soo'
snread throughout the city an'
there was general sympathy eXDre'
sci for the father in his sad be
reavement. Capt. Lawrence ha'
made his home At New Alexander;
for some time past md was wei
known among residents ST that place
Despite the fact that all OF m
family save one had been wiped out
Capt. Lawrence stood up bravely ant
did what he could 20 helD the harbo
police in dragging for the bodies o
his family