The Season of Accidents
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THE SEASON OF ACCIDENTS.
July and August are peculiarly the months of accidental deaths—very many of them by drowning. Boys, not sufficiently versed in swimming, or who venture in bad parts of the river where there are dangerous undercurrents, frequently lose their lives, these months. Many a sad hearted mother and father have reason to know this.
“Have you ever lost a child?” is the pathetic question in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” whose few words, as they are uttered, from the stage, cause many a moist eye in the crowded audience, among men as well as women.
With respect to these accidents by drowning—how melancholy they frequently are! The family perhaps is enjoying itself in the usual way—perhaps at a meal—when the sickening news is brought. What pen can describe the nausea, the gloom, the aching and stunned brain? The mother—she always suffers most
Something of this kind happened last Saturday. A young man named George Bennett, about 18 years old, and living in Classon avenue, Seventh Ward, went about sundown to bathe near the foot of Division avenue and in some unaccountable manner, sunk and was drowned, in the midst of a large number of persons. His body was soon recovered—but no attempt was made to resuscitate him. A person went to inform his parents, and close upon this followed the poor fellow’s corpse.
This youth was an only son, estimable and much beloved. The mourning of his parents was harrowing; and all through yesterday the house was visited by his young friends, who came away with tearful eyes.
Many and many a like case, no doubt happens. We shall never forget the sight of a young Irish woman whose little body was drowned some time ago, near Fulton ferry. She came rushing bareheaded, to the wharf, and though not noisy or boisterous, we realised then how mean and shallow are all attempts of art, pictures, print, the drama, &c. to pourtray native human sorrow, in its grandest and truest expressions.