A distressing tragedy occurred near Crescent City Sunday afternoon when Benjamin F. Squires and Robert J. Squires, both of Palatka, were drowned in Lake Crescent, following the capsizing of a small boat.
It appears that Mr. and Mrs. Ben Squires and their two small children - one three years old and the other an infant only a few months - and Robert Squires on Sunday afternoon at about 4 o'clock started in a light boat to cross Lake Crescent to go to the Wilson Cypress Company's logging camp. The lake was rough, high winds and heavy waves making navigation dangerous even for larger boats. As the party left they were advised to remain on shore and await more favorable weather, but they disregarded this advice, and were soon on their way. After going for a mile, the boat evidently was struck by a squall, for those on shore saw the craft tossed up and down and then turn over.
Two boats immediately started for the scene of trouble, and when the would-be rescuing parties neared the upturned craft, they found Mrs. Squires in the water, and holding her baby. Some distance away the rescuers saw the other child, Irene Squires, floating on the water, but before they could reach the spot she went down. No trace of the two men could be found, so the parties returned to the Crescent City dock, where Mrs. Squires and the baby were given needed care and attention.
Though hysterical from her awful experience, Mrs. Squires gave a rambling account of the tragic accident. When the craft overturned, the two men realizing that it could only support Mrs. Squires and the children, and being expert swimmers, they thought they could swim ashore, secure needed assistance and return shortly to the rescue of Mrs. Squires, who was told to cling to the baby and the boat. Accordingly, Bob Squires took the three-year-old child in his arms, and accompanied by his brother, struck out for shore. However, the waves beat them back, and with their heavy clothing, they doubtless soon became exhausted, for they were never again seen in life.
As soon as the dreadful affair became known, searching parties set out to drag the lake for the missing persons. Sheriff Hagan was notified, and he too, left for the scene of death and to assist in the search for the bodies.
The body of the little girl was soon located, but it required diligent searching to find the two men. However, their bodies were recovered Monday - the search having continued without interruption for nearly twenty-four hours.
The bodies were prepared for burial and were taken to the Peniel cemetery for interment in the family section there Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock.
Robert Squires was an employee of the bucket factory here, and was popular with a large circle of friends. He leaves his wife and three small children. Ben Squires is survived by his wife and baby, who escaped drowning in the lake. Both young men were born in the Peniel section, and their untimely and tragic deaths cast a gloom over the entire community. (Palatka Times-Herald Obituary dtd Friday, 26 Mar 1920.)
It appears that Mr. and Mrs. Ben Squires and their two small children - one three years old and the other an infant only a few months - and Robert Squires on Sunday afternoon at about 4 o'clock started in a light boat to cross Lake Crescent to go to the Wilson Cypress Company's logging camp. The lake was rough, high winds and heavy waves making navigation dangerous even for larger boats. As the party left they were advised to remain on shore and await more favorable weather, but they disregarded this advice, and were soon on their way. After going for a mile, the boat evidently was struck by a squall, for those on shore saw the craft tossed up and down and then turn over.
Two boats immediately started for the scene of trouble, and when the would-be rescuing parties neared the upturned craft, they found Mrs. Squires in the water, and holding her baby. Some distance away the rescuers saw the other child, Irene Squires, floating on the water, but before they could reach the spot she went down. No trace of the two men could be found, so the parties returned to the Crescent City dock, where Mrs. Squires and the baby were given needed care and attention.
Though hysterical from her awful experience, Mrs. Squires gave a rambling account of the tragic accident. When the craft overturned, the two men realizing that it could only support Mrs. Squires and the children, and being expert swimmers, they thought they could swim ashore, secure needed assistance and return shortly to the rescue of Mrs. Squires, who was told to cling to the baby and the boat. Accordingly, Bob Squires took the three-year-old child in his arms, and accompanied by his brother, struck out for shore. However, the waves beat them back, and with their heavy clothing, they doubtless soon became exhausted, for they were never again seen in life.
As soon as the dreadful affair became known, searching parties set out to drag the lake for the missing persons. Sheriff Hagan was notified, and he too, left for the scene of death and to assist in the search for the bodies.
The body of the little girl was soon located, but it required diligent searching to find the two men. However, their bodies were recovered Monday - the search having continued without interruption for nearly twenty-four hours.
The bodies were prepared for burial and were taken to the Peniel cemetery for interment in the family section there Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock.
Robert Squires was an employee of the bucket factory here, and was popular with a large circle of friends. He leaves his wife and three small children. Ben Squires is survived by his wife and baby, who escaped drowning in the lake. Both young men were born in the Peniel section, and their untimely and tragic deaths cast a gloom over the entire community. (Palatka Times-Herald Obituary dtd Friday, 26 Mar 1920.)
A distressing tragedy occurred near Crescent City Sunday afternoon when Benjamin F. Squires and Robert J. Squires, both of Palatka, were drowned in Lake Crescent, following the capsizing of a small boat.
It appears that Mr. and Mrs. Ben Squires and their two small children - one three years old and the other an infant only a few months - and Robert Squires on Sunday afternoon at about 4 o'clock started in a light boat to cross Lake Crescent to go to the Wilson Cypress Company's logging camp. The lake was rough, high winds and heavy waves making navigation dangerous even for larger boats. As the party left they were advised to remain on shore and await more favorable weather, but they disregarded this advice, and were soon on their way. After going for a mile, the boat evidently was struck by a squall, for those on shore saw the craft tossed up and down and then turn over.
Two boats immediately started for the scene of trouble, and when the would-be rescuing parties neared the upturned craft, they found Mrs. Squires in the water, and holding her baby. Some distance away the rescuers saw the other child, Irene Squires, floating on the water, but before they could reach the spot she went down. No trace of the two men could be found, so the parties returned to the Crescent City dock, where Mrs. Squires and the baby were given needed care and attention.
Though hysterical from her awful experience, Mrs. Squires gave a rambling account of the tragic accident. When the craft overturned, the two men realizing that it could only support Mrs. Squires and the children, and being expert swimmers, they thought they could swim ashore, secure needed assistance and return shortly to the rescue of Mrs. Squires, who was told to cling to the baby and the boat. Accordingly, Bob Squires took the three-year-old child in his arms, and accompanied by his brother, struck out for shore. However, the waves beat them back, and with their heavy clothing, they doubtless soon became exhausted, for they were never again seen in life.
As soon as the dreadful affair became known, searching parties set out to drag the lake for the missing persons. Sheriff Hagan was notified, and he too, left for the scene of death and to assist in the search for the bodies.
The body of the little girl was soon located, but it required diligent searching to find the two men. However, their bodies were recovered Monday - the search having continued without interruption for nearly twenty-four hours.
The bodies were prepared for burial and were taken to the Peniel cemetery for interment in the family section there Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock.
Robert Squires was an employee of the bucket factory here, and was popular with a large circle of friends. He leaves his wife and three small children. Ben Squires is survived by his wife and baby, who escaped drowning in the lake. Both young men were born in the Peniel section, and their untimely and tragic deaths cast a gloom over the entire community. (Palatka Times-Herald Obituary dtd Friday, 26 Mar 1920.)
It appears that Mr. and Mrs. Ben Squires and their two small children - one three years old and the other an infant only a few months - and Robert Squires on Sunday afternoon at about 4 o'clock started in a light boat to cross Lake Crescent to go to the Wilson Cypress Company's logging camp. The lake was rough, high winds and heavy waves making navigation dangerous even for larger boats. As the party left they were advised to remain on shore and await more favorable weather, but they disregarded this advice, and were soon on their way. After going for a mile, the boat evidently was struck by a squall, for those on shore saw the craft tossed up and down and then turn over.
Two boats immediately started for the scene of trouble, and when the would-be rescuing parties neared the upturned craft, they found Mrs. Squires in the water, and holding her baby. Some distance away the rescuers saw the other child, Irene Squires, floating on the water, but before they could reach the spot she went down. No trace of the two men could be found, so the parties returned to the Crescent City dock, where Mrs. Squires and the baby were given needed care and attention.
Though hysterical from her awful experience, Mrs. Squires gave a rambling account of the tragic accident. When the craft overturned, the two men realizing that it could only support Mrs. Squires and the children, and being expert swimmers, they thought they could swim ashore, secure needed assistance and return shortly to the rescue of Mrs. Squires, who was told to cling to the baby and the boat. Accordingly, Bob Squires took the three-year-old child in his arms, and accompanied by his brother, struck out for shore. However, the waves beat them back, and with their heavy clothing, they doubtless soon became exhausted, for they were never again seen in life.
As soon as the dreadful affair became known, searching parties set out to drag the lake for the missing persons. Sheriff Hagan was notified, and he too, left for the scene of death and to assist in the search for the bodies.
The body of the little girl was soon located, but it required diligent searching to find the two men. However, their bodies were recovered Monday - the search having continued without interruption for nearly twenty-four hours.
The bodies were prepared for burial and were taken to the Peniel cemetery for interment in the family section there Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock.
Robert Squires was an employee of the bucket factory here, and was popular with a large circle of friends. He leaves his wife and three small children. Ben Squires is survived by his wife and baby, who escaped drowning in the lake. Both young men were born in the Peniel section, and their untimely and tragic deaths cast a gloom over the entire community. (Palatka Times-Herald Obituary dtd Friday, 26 Mar 1920.)
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Drowned in Lake Crescent
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