Britton and Burnham Warner, d. May 1882

HOLLOWELL, MILLSPAUGH, WARNER

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 9/13/2009 at 08:04:20

SAD ACCIDENT.

On Thursday last two boys, Britton and Burnham Warner, aged respectively 18 and 16 years, were drowned at Millspaugh's mill. They were sons of Alfred Warner of Trenton township. The mill is on the west side of Skunk river about two miles above Rome. There is neither bridge nor ferry at the mill. When the river is too deep to ford the crossing is by skiff. The boys came to mill with a grist of twelve bushels, and finding the mill skiff on the east side of the river concluded to row their grist over to the mill without calling the assistance of any of the mill hands. The boat was left on the east side for the accommodation of Millspaugh's farm hand Myron Hollowell, who was at work on the east side of the river. Hollowell hearing a cry for help ran to the river just in time to see the boys and skiff plunge over the dam. The accident was seen from the mill. There was no other boat near, no assistance was or could be rendered to save the boys. The boys had no experience in boating and did not see their danger until too late. The body of the younger boy was recovered that day, but the other had not been recovered up to yesterday, although persistent and thorough search has been made and is still continued. The father has offered a reward of $800 for the body. The skiff continued to roll in the eddy until it was torn to pieces. The funeral of the younger boy, Burnham, was on Saturday last. They were uncommonly promising boys and special favorites in the neighborhood and the pride and hope of their parents. To the parents especially the blow is a crushing one.

'Mt. Pleasant Free Press', Thursday May 25, 1882, Page 3