son of William A. and Mary E. Armstrong
Sad Case of Drowning -- A sad case of drowning occurred in the canal that supplies Messrs. Slaughter & Son's mill with water, near the depot on last Monday. The unfortunate child was Willie Armstrong, between six and seven years of age, son of a widow lady recently moved to town. Willie had been in the habit of going off to play with the neighboring children, which practice his mother was trying to break up. During the evening Monday, the child asked his mother to let him go to the pump and bring a bucket of cool water, which request she at first refused, thinking he wanted to get off to play, but upon his insisting she consented. He took the bucket, went to the pump on Charles Street below the railroad, drew his water and returned to the canal just above where it runs under Prussia Street. He then sat down his bucket and commenced playing in the water. He was sitting on the bank on the canal and losing his balance fell in and was swept down by the strong current of water. A colored man saw him as he was swept down the canal, and gave the alarm. The water was at its height and no one could get under the covered way until the water was shut off at the paper mill above, which was done as soon as the news could reach there. As soon as possible, lanterns were gotten and Charles W. Edrington, Charles Hunter, Luther Wright and Benj. Hicks, started in search of the body, which they found about one square below, where it had caught between two braces. The child was dead when found, having been in the water near two hours. It was two hours of great excitement, as a large crowd had gathered, each person anxious to do something to save the child. We learn he was a bright, promising, boy and was much doted on by his mother. The Fredericksburg Ledger, July 24, 1874.
Sad Case of Drowning -- A sad case of drowning occurred in the canal that supplies Messrs. Slaughter & Son's mill with water, near the depot on last Monday. The unfortunate child was Willie Armstrong, between six and seven years of age, son of a widow lady recently moved to town. Willie had been in the habit of going off to play with the neighboring children, which practice his mother was trying to break up. During the evening Monday, the child asked his mother to let him go to the pump and bring a bucket of cool water, which request she at first refused, thinking he wanted to get off to play, but upon his insisting she consented. He took the bucket, went to the pump on Charles Street below the railroad, drew his water and returned to the canal just above where it runs under Prussia Street. He then sat down his bucket and commenced playing in the water. He was sitting on the bank on the canal and losing his balance fell in and was swept down by the strong current of water. A colored man saw him as he was swept down the canal, and gave the alarm. The water was at its height and no one could get under the covered way until the water was shut off at the paper mill above, which was done as soon as the news could reach there. As soon as possible, lanterns were gotten and Charles W. Edrington, Charles Hunter, Luther Wright and Benj. Hicks, started in search of the body, which they found about one square below, where it had caught between two braces. The child was dead when found, having been in the water near two hours. It was two hours of great excitement, as a large crowd had gathered, each person anxious to do something to save the child. We learn he was a bright, promising, boy and was much doted on by his mother. The Fredericksburg Ledger, July 24, 1874.
son of William A. and Mary E. Armstrong
Sad Case of Drowning -- A sad case of drowning occurred in the canal that supplies Messrs. Slaughter & Son's mill with water, near the depot on last Monday. The unfortunate child was Willie Armstrong, between six and seven years of age, son of a widow lady recently moved to town. Willie had been in the habit of going off to play with the neighboring children, which practice his mother was trying to break up. During the evening Monday, the child asked his mother to let him go to the pump and bring a bucket of cool water, which request she at first refused, thinking he wanted to get off to play, but upon his insisting she consented. He took the bucket, went to the pump on Charles Street below the railroad, drew his water and returned to the canal just above where it runs under Prussia Street. He then sat down his bucket and commenced playing in the water. He was sitting on the bank on the canal and losing his balance fell in and was swept down by the strong current of water. A colored man saw him as he was swept down the canal, and gave the alarm. The water was at its height and no one could get under the covered way until the water was shut off at the paper mill above, which was done as soon as the news could reach there. As soon as possible, lanterns were gotten and Charles W. Edrington, Charles Hunter, Luther Wright and Benj. Hicks, started in search of the body, which they found about one square below, where it had caught between two braces. The child was dead when found, having been in the water near two hours. It was two hours of great excitement, as a large crowd had gathered, each person anxious to do something to save the child. We learn he was a bright, promising, boy and was much doted on by his mother. The Fredericksburg Ledger, July 24, 1874.
Sad Case of Drowning -- A sad case of drowning occurred in the canal that supplies Messrs. Slaughter & Son's mill with water, near the depot on last Monday. The unfortunate child was Willie Armstrong, between six and seven years of age, son of a widow lady recently moved to town. Willie had been in the habit of going off to play with the neighboring children, which practice his mother was trying to break up. During the evening Monday, the child asked his mother to let him go to the pump and bring a bucket of cool water, which request she at first refused, thinking he wanted to get off to play, but upon his insisting she consented. He took the bucket, went to the pump on Charles Street below the railroad, drew his water and returned to the canal just above where it runs under Prussia Street. He then sat down his bucket and commenced playing in the water. He was sitting on the bank on the canal and losing his balance fell in and was swept down by the strong current of water. A colored man saw him as he was swept down the canal, and gave the alarm. The water was at its height and no one could get under the covered way until the water was shut off at the paper mill above, which was done as soon as the news could reach there. As soon as possible, lanterns were gotten and Charles W. Edrington, Charles Hunter, Luther Wright and Benj. Hicks, started in search of the body, which they found about one square below, where it had caught between two braces. The child was dead when found, having been in the water near two hours. It was two hours of great excitement, as a large crowd had gathered, each person anxious to do something to save the child. We learn he was a bright, promising, boy and was much doted on by his mother. The Fredericksburg Ledger, July 24, 1874.
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