NEWS: Four Drowned at Opening of Dam No. 1, Herr's Island, 1903, Allegheny County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja

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FOUR YOUNG PEOPLE DROWNED

Suction from a New Dam Upset Their Boat and Four Out of Six Were Lost.

THREE BOYS AND A GIRL

The Sad Accident Happened in the Allegheny River, Near Pittsburg, Last 
Evening, and Spoiled the Formal Opening of the New Dam of the Slack Water 
System - Bodies Recovered, Et.

PITTSBURG, July 28. - A sad accident followed shortly after the formal opening 
of dam No. 1 in the Allegheny at Herr's Island this evening, in which four 
young people were drowned.  Their names are:
  Joseph Brown, aged 19.
  Henry Brown, aged 14, brother of Joseph.
  Frederick Bulger, jr.
  Edna Shipley, aged 13.
  After the ceremonies incident to the opening of the dam, which is the first 
to be built in the proposed Allegheny river slack water system, the three boys 
were riding around below the dam in a skiff and, seeing three girls on the 
bank, invited them to join in the ride.  When all had been seated, the skiff 
was headed for the dam and, when within a short distance from the structure, 
the suction from the "bear trap" drew the boat, in spite of the boys' frantic 
efforts, under the water flowing over the dam.  The accident was witness by 
hundreds of people and rescuers were quickly at work, but before the party 
could be reached four of the number were drowned.  Lena Dadig and Annie 
McIntyre were rescued in an unconscious condition, but were soon revived.  All 
the bodies of the victims, except Edna Shipley, have been recovered.

Altoona Times, Wednesday, July 29, 1903