Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-12-26
Edgewater Park
Youths Drown
Father Unable Too Help AS Sons
Lose Grip On Craft

day morning. two boys, James and
William Major. Jr. l6 and IL years
old, were drowned near their home
inEdgewater Park, and their parents.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Major.wait
in vain for news Of the finding OF
the, bodies.
OUT FOR DUCKS
The two boys started out about
s o'clock to shoot ducks with a new
gun they had received for Christmas.
Shortly after they left the shore q
chauffeur attached to the homo of
Frank Thatcher, heard cries for help
and ran down to the water where he
saw the boys who were then cling
ing to the keel of the canoe.
FOTHER A WITNESS
He shouted to them to hang on
and he would get help.He then sum-
1noned Barney Vankirk, and the boys
father from neighboring estate.
When the father looked upon the
waters, he cried out. "God help me
they are my boys"
Unable to do anything, he said
later. Il was helpness. Both of my
sons made heroic fight to get to
shore and had progress about 100
feet when my boy James. made an
outcry and sank.
II almost cheered when / saw the
bravery of my oldest boy as he made
wild dive toward the spot where
his brother disappeared. But the
cheer stuck in my throat for neither
boy came to the surface again.
VETERN RIVER MEN AIDE
Edward Bintliff, who was watch
inge flock Of ducks, off the Edge
water Cove through pair of strong
field glasses, from the Beverly warf
was a witness to The trajec affair.
He rushed to the city Hall and sum-
moned police who rushed to the
scene and then he summoned his
ruthers, and father, Clarence, Jack
and John Bintliff who launched q
boat with graphing irons and raced
to the scene Of the disaster. And to
the Intense cold and the ice the were
forced to land.
POLICE BOAT CALLED
The Beverly Police, under Command
of James Holland, seeing that their
men were not equal to the task be-
fore them, called the City Hall at
Philadelphia asking that Police
Boat be sent at oncs TO. sae scene.
Assistandd Director of Public Safety
George E. Elliot. notified the Phila-
delphia Police patrol boat No. 2. UNI
der command of Captain Harry
Kringe, to proceede to Edgewater
and aide in thesearch for the bodies.
DARKNESS STOPS SEARCH
At dark when the search was f.
nally gwen up for night, it was fea-'
red that the bodies had probably
been swept some distance up the riv-
yer by the strong tide.
MOTHER NEAR COLLAPSE
Mr.. Major, has been in the employ
of Joseph C. Gill. of the River Bank
for the past fifteen years. The boys
We're members of family Of seven
children, four boys and three girls,
ranging in age from 3 to IL years.
Mrs. Major. when told of the ira
gedy fled to the river determined to
wade in the water from the ice FIRM
ged shoe and seek her boys. 1t took
two men to restrain her. She was
led weeping to her home and placed
under the care Of a physician.
FATHER PATROLS BEACH
Until darkness made it necessary
to stop work of seeking the bodies
of his boys, Mr., Major patrolled the
beach, apparently keeping up" only
though the thought Of the bravery
of his oldest boys attempt to save his
younger brother.
SHELLS HAMPER BOYS
Shells with which the boys were
cunning, and which filled their pcs
skets, it is beloved helped drag dk}wri
the heavily clad brother, to watery
grave.
The search willsbe continued to-
day and dynamite will probably be
used to try and bying the bodies to
the surface