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Description: Drowning Page 2
Newspaper published in: Washington, D. C.
Page/Column: 2
Washington Post May 4,1914 Drowning Page 2
DROWNS FROM CANOE
Francis Walter, Pupil at McKinley, Sinks in Potomac.
COMPANION SWIMS ASHORE
Police Seek in Vain for Body Near Chain Bridge - Boys Were Returning From Virginia Side When Current Overturned Craft - Dead Boy Was Unable to Swim. Lived With Widowed Mother.
With the capsizing of a canoe in the Potomac River, near Bush Stand Cove, at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, Francis WALTER, 18 years old, a student at the McKinley High School, was drowned, and H. F. JOHNSON, 25 years old, an employe of the geological survey, managed to save himself by swimming 1 mile to shore. The harbor police on the Virgilant spent several hours last night in a futile search for the body. The search will be resumed today.
Walter lived with his widowed mother, Mrs. Mary T. WALTER, at 1815 Adams Mill road northwest. Mrs. WALTER is employed in the forestry division of the Department
of Agriculture. There are two other children, Henry, 7, and Nercer, 4. JOHNSON baorded [sp.] at the WALTER home. He recently returned from a tour of the world.
Current Overturns Canoe.
Johnson and Walter left the house shortly after 1 o'clock, and rented a canoe at one of the boathouses on Canal street. They paddled across to the Virginia side, and about 4 o'clock were returning, when the canoe was caught in the swift current, a mile above Chain bridge.
The canoe was sent bobbing over the water like a cork, and the two young men lost control of it. A gust of wind sent it spinning, and while Johnson was trying to hold the canoe in its course, it capsized.
Walter, who could not swim, sank immediately. He rose once, several feet from the overturned boat, and Johnson struck out toward him, but before he could reach Walter the lad sank again, and did not rise. Johnson then swam to shore.
Johnson notified the police, and a search for the body was begun. Alexander T. HENSEY, of the real estate firm of Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey, who is a neighbor to Mrs. WALTER, was called by telephone and asked to break the news to the mother. Mrs. Walter was visiting at the HENSEY home when the message was received, and had barely finished expressing fears for her son's safety when word came that he was dead.
Mrs. Walter was prostrated, and after being removed to her home, neighbors had to summon a physician to care for her.
Young Walter would have graduated at the McKinley High School this year. He was the grandson of Alfred CHRISTIE, jr., 114 Adams street northwest, analyst in the bureau of mines.