Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Canavan, John W. April 9, 1914
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Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 November 7, 2022, 10:14 am

Virginian-Pilot  February 16, 1914
CORONER'S INQUEST  FOR AUTOMOBILE TRAGEDY

TWO RESCUES FROM FERRY ACCIDENT SAY ENGINE WASN'T RUNNING - BODIES RECOVERED

With Burt Johnson and L. Hanff, two of the men rescued from the ill-fated car, 
testifying that the automobile engine was not running at the time of the accident 
and M. D. Sykes testifying that the machine was not in gear and that the emergency 
brake was on to the last notch when the machine was pulled out of the water, a 
preliminary inquest was held yesterday afternoon by the coroner's jury, summoned 
by Dr. R. S. Kight to inquire into the death of Jack Tully and John W. Canavan, 
drowned last Thursday night when an automobile in which they and five others were 
riding ran off the ferry steamer Rockaway.

The bodies of both men were recovered at 10:40 o’clock yesterday morning by W. C. 
Booker, a colored diver, who found them lying on the bottom under the east side of 
the ferry boat not far from where the accident occurred. Booker had been searching 
for the bodies for several days. He located them within forty minutes after he 
went under the water yesterday morning.

Canavan’s body was the first to be recovered. While walking along the bottom of 
the river under the float, Booker stepped on Canavan's foot. He saw an object not 
far away, and grasping it, found it to be the body of Tully. He brought both 
bodies to the surface and tied them to the wharf, pending the arrival of Dr. R. S. 
Kight, city coroner.

That Canavan did not drown without a struggle for his life was shown by the 
condition of his clothing. He was wearing a rubber coat at the time and this was 
almost torn from his shoulders, as was one sleeve of his coat.
Tully's body was turned over to Undertaker H. D. Oliver, while Canavan's body was 
placed in charge of Undertaker H. C. Smith.

At the inquest held yesterday afternoon, L. Hanff, one of the rescued men, 
testified that the automobile’s engine was not running, he also said that Canavan 
had not left his seat from the time the machine left Portsmouth, he said he felt 
no thump or motion until the ferryboat hit the bumper piles at the end of the 
wharf. He also testified that the gates or chain was not up.

Burt Johnson testified that the engine was not running. He said his back was to 
the front of the car and he could not see whether the chauffeur left the seat or 
not.

M. D. Sykes of the Monticello Auto Car Service, who helped to direct the raising 
of the machine, testified that the machine was not in gear and the emergency brake 
was on to the last notch when the machine was hauled out of the water.

Captain J. W. Alexander, master of the Rockaway, and the deckhand on the ferry 
steamer, have been summoned to appear before the jury this afternoon and give 
their side of the accident.

The body of Canavan was claimed yesterday afternoon by his mother, Mrs. Peter A. 
Forbes. The funeral will be held at the family residence, Haynes avenue, near the 
Broad Creek road, at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon. Services will be conducted by 
Rev. Phillip P. Brennan of St. Mary's Catholic church. Burial will be in St. 
Mary’s cemetery.

Tully’s body has been claimed by his brother and is at Oliver’s funeral 
apartments, 610-12 Freemason street. The son of the deceased man is expected to 
arrive in Norfolk this morning from Baltimore.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/obits/c/canavan5413nob.txt

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