Miscellaneous, Drowning Tragedy at Bainbridge, 1924

Triple Tragedy, Bainbridge Mourns

Three Bainbridge Lads Lose Their Lives When Boat Overturns

Sidney Record, Oct. 18, 1924

 

Last Sunday afternoon, Oct. 12th, many were the anxious homes in Bainbridge village [Chenango Co., NY] regarding the absence from home of three lads, Frank and Edward Johnson, age 7 and 10 years, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson and John Shafer, age 10 years, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Shafer, former residents of Sidney, all residing in Bainbridge.

 

In the morning the three lads had started out of the village and were last seen walking in the direction of the road leading from Bainbridge to Coventry.  Failing to return to their homes late in the afternoon, a search was at once instituted and the clue along the Coventry road was followed.  On one side of that road is located Roberts Lake, a body of water that in former years was a part of the Bainbridge water works system.  The searchers arriving at the lake at once discovered the fate that had overtaken the tree little fellows.  On the shore was their clothing, while on the lake floated an overturned flat bottom boat.  An immediate search was made for the three bodies.  State Troopers were dispatched from Sidney to render assistance and the lake was dragged.  The body of young John Shafer was first recovered and later on the two Johnson boys were taken out of the water.  Dr. Edward Danforth, health officer, viewed the bodies and rendered a verdict of accidental drowning.  No one saw the accident which probably occurred in the morning of last Sunday.

 

Wednesday afternoon, 15th inst., every heart in Bainbridge was depressed, the burial of the three little boys seemed to strike into every home as if it was their own family loss.  The flowers sent for the occasion, vast in number, beautiful in design, testified to the widespread sorrow and the services at the two homes were largely attended.  The two Johnson lads, Frank and Edward, were buried in the Episcopalian cemetery side by side; John Shafer, age 10 years, was buried in Greenlawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY]

 

.Regarding the last named boy comes to light an unusual incident.  The Shafer family always carried a Prudential insurance policy on each member, until a few months ago all of the policies were dropped, except the policy carried on John, who lost his life last Sunday.  Mr. Howard Collar, Prudential agent, promptly paid the amount, $10.

 

Triple Funeral of Drowned Boys

Trio Who Met Death in Roberts Pond Buried in Bainbridge

Binghamton Press, Oct. 15, 1924

 

Bainbridge:  The funerals of Edward and Frank, aged 10 and 8, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson and of John, the eight-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Shaver, who were drowned while swimming in Roberts' Pond Sunday afternoon, were held this afternoon from the Johnson home at 1:30 and from the Shaver home at 4 o'clock.  Burial of the Johnson boys was in St. Peter's Episcopal cemetery, the Rev. R.B. Whitman officiating, and of the Shaver boy at Greenlawn, the Rev. M.V. Williams officiating.

 

Besides their parents, Edward and Frank are survived by two younger sisters, Mary and Grace, and a baby brother, Donald, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Shofkom.

 

John Shaver is survived by his parents, and six sisters, Dorothy, Gladys, Florence, Louella, Mildred, Margaret and baby brother, Kenneth, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Seamen of Sidney.