Wednesday, September 10, 2008

PUSHED OVERBOARD AND DROWNED.

New York, 1895

Charles Davis the Victim of an Unmerciful Captain.

William Adamson, Captain of a barge owned by William A. Price of New York, is locked up in the Town Hall at Flushing, charged with responsibility for the death of Charles Davis, 18 years old, who was drowned from the barge Monday afternoon.

Capt. Adamson tied up at the dye works dock Monday morning with a load of coal for the dye works. He hired Charles Davis and Pleasant Harris to assist in unloading the coal. After working several hours the young men got overheated and decided to take a bath. They sat down on the edge of the barge to rest. The Captain walked up behind the young men, and with the, remark "If you're going to take a swim, why don't you do it?" pushed Davis overboard. He sank instantly.

Harris called on the captain to save the youth's life, but, with a laugh, the captain went back to his work. Harris ran ashore and asked Capt. Hance to arrest Adamson. Hance thought the youth was fooling and paid no attention.

Deputy Sheriff Methven went immediately to the dock and arrested Capt. Adamson. The creek was dragged, and the body of Davis was recovered.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, June 28, 1895, p. 1.

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