Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-15
STORM CAPS|zES
SCHOONER; DIE
IN POTOMAC RIVER
Family Caught Like Rats
in Trap as Craft
Goes Over.
MOTHER, DAUGHTER,
THREE SONS PERISH
Captain William Lawrence
and One Son Only Survi-
vors of Wreck.
REMOVING TO NEWFOUNDLAND
Household waS on Way TO New
Home Down River when
MOTHER, DAUGHTER,
THREE SONS PERISH
REMOVING TO NEWFOUNDLAND
Household waS on Way 10 New
Home Down River When
Dlsnstcr Bcfcll II.
Especial to The Timcs-pispa,ch.l ]


ALEXANDRIA. VA. April 1.-THE
lives OF five members OF the family
Of Captain William Lawrence were
snuffcd out In the chilly waters of
the Potomac between 5 and 6 O'Clock
this morning, during the progress OF
severe rain. wind and electrical
storm. when the schooner on which
they were asleep was capsized as
the elements ragged.
Only two remain to tell the tale
Of the eventful Good Friday morn
ing. and they arc Captain Lawrence
about As years old. and his son, Car
roll Lawrence. l9 years old. They
were saved by clinGinG to the mast
head OF the small two-master kim
nell.
Family Nearly Wiped Out.
Those drowned are the wife OF
Captain Lawrence and four OF his
children-one daughter and three
sons. They are:
Mrs. Gertrude Lawrence. 45 years
old.
Miss Lillian Lawrence. 16 year.
old. daughter.
Archie Lawrence. 16 years old.
Calvin Lawrence, 10 years old.
Myril Lawrence. Z years old.
The little schooner was anchored
near the channel between Jones
Point and Fort Foote. on the Mary
land side of the river. II was loaded
with furniture. The furniture be.
longed to the family. who were NOV
ing from their home at New Alexan-
dria. Fairfax County, south OF Alex
andria, and were going to locate at
Machodoc Creek. Wcstmorcland
County. Va.
Aroused by Fury OF storm.
Captain Lawrence and his son
arose early. being aroused by the
heavy storm. and they were on the
lookout to see that everything was
in order, the schooner being an
chored. His son acted as mate. The
elements seemed at their worst.
Realizing that the schooner soon
might he capsized. Captain Law
renee said that he cried to his wife
and children TO get up, all being
asleep in their hunks at the time.
]; was only few minutes after he
gave the warning that the schooner
was overturned. The victims were
caught like rats In trap.
Grab the Masthead.
Captain Lawrence and his son,
Carroll. as the craft careencd, stuck
to the masthead, clinginE tenacious
ly for about forty-five minutes, when
both were rescued by Captain Fred
erick Posey. of the steamer South
land. from Norfolk, en- route to
Washington. and placed aboard that
boat. They We're taken To Washing
ton Neither appeared to have suf-
fered any i'll effects from their har-
rowing experience. although both
were wcil-nigh exhausted when they
were taken aboard the steamer.
Worst Storm OF His Career.
After arriving In Washington, Can
tain Lawrence and his son went to
the harbor masters office and later
in the day came down in the harbor
police boat and helped the harbor
officials search for the bodies OF his
family.
Captain Lawrence stated this
morning that he has been on the
river for many years. and that the
storm was one OF the worst he ever
witnessed in his life.
He also said that he lost every
thing he possessed in the world.
Captain Lawrence is native Of
Somerset County, Md.