Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Crandall, Elizabeth B. June 16, 1900 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 April 7, 2025, 4:49 pm New York Times June 17, 1900 TRAGIC END OF AN OUTING Two Girl Members of Excursion Party Drowned at Oscawana. FELL FROM ROCK INTO WATER Were Enjoying Themselves, with No Thought of Impending Danger-Companion Saved by Policeman. Two little girls were drowned yesterday afternoon, and another narrowly escaped a similar fate at Oscawana Island, a small Island situated in the Hudson River, between Sing Sing and Peekskill. The two who were drowned were Elizabeth Beatrix Crandall, the twelve-year-old daughter of B. F. Crandall of 71 West One Hundred and Fourth Street, and Anna Hussey, the eleven-year-old daughter of John Hussey, a clerk in the Gilsey House, who also lives at 71 West One Hundred and Fourth Street. Helen Clara Crandall, ten years old, a sister of one of the drowned girls, was rescued as she was going down for the third time by Policeman Henry Bischoff of the City Hall Station. The children, accompanied by Mrs. Crandall, mother of one of the drowned girls, were members of a merry party of excursionists who boarded the Iron Steamboat Taurus at the foot of West Ninety-sixth Street yesterday morning for a sail up the Hudson. It was the annual excursion of the Sunday school of the West End Presbyterian Church, of which the Rev. John Balcom Shaw is pastor, and the boat carried a large crowd, all anxious for a pleasant time. At Oscawana Island, a stop was made, and most of the excursionists went ashore, the others remaining on the boat, which proceeded up the river to West Point. Many of the excursionists went in bathing, and Mrs. Crandall and her charges seated themselves near the shore to watch those who had gone into the water. One of the girls suggested that they remove their shoes and stockings and wade along the shore. They were soon running in and out of the water, and their peals of laughter indicated that they were thoroughly enjoying their release from the confines of the city. A large rock standing out some distance from the shore attracted their attention, and with some difficulty they made their way out to it. It was a dangerous proceeding, but the children merely shouted in glee as they reached the rock. The water on the outside of the rock is eight feet deep. Sitting down on the edge of the rock they splashed the water with their feet, enjoying themselves as only children w hose homes are in the city can. FELL INTO THE WATER. Suddenly one of the girls screamed, and Mrs. Crandall turned her bead just in time to see the three fall into the water. Her cries hastily brought to her side many of the excursion party and Policeman Bischoff, who had been detailed to the excursion. The latter took in the situation at a glance, and, throwing off his coat and helmet and handing his revolver to a bystander, plunged into the river. Two of the girls had disappeared, but little Helen was struggling hard to keep afloat. Bischoff reached her just as she was about to sink for the third time, and took her ashore, where willing hands were ready to give her aid. Mrs. Crandall, frantic with excitement, also made an effort to save the children. Bischoff again entered the water, after he had delivered Helen into the hands of friends, and repeatedly dived, for the bodies of the two who had drowned. He found the body of Anna Hussey and took it ashore, assisted by W. R. Massey of 200 West Ninety-eighth Street. Prompt remedies were applied to bring her around, but life was extinct. Bischoff secured a rowboat and a rake and continued his search for the body of Elisabeth Crandall, but it could not be found. The search was kept up to a late hour last night. Helen Crandall was soon revived and taken aboard the Taurus, which had returned from the trip up the river. In half an hour she was all right, except for her intense grief over the death of her sister. Coroner Mason of Westchester County was notified of the accident and responded at once. He viewed the body of Anna Hussey and gave a permit for its removal to this city. During the confusion incident to sending the body home, orders for its removal were given to two different undertakers. When the body reached the Grand Central Station there was a dispute between the undertakers as to who should have possession of the body. This was finally settled, and the body of the little girl was taken to the home of her distracted parents. Owing to the hysterical and prostrated condition of Mrs. Crandall, she was told last night that the body of her child had been recovered. This was done in order to quiet her somewhat. UNACCOUNTABLE RETICENCE. For some unaccountable reason, details of the accident were not obtainable last night, either at the house of the Rev. Mr. Shaw or Mr. Crandall. In answer to the question whether the accident was due to negligence in allowing the children to wade off an unfamiliar shore, Mr. Crandall said, “I have nothing whatever to say.” At the house of Dr. Shaw, a head was thrust out of a second-story window in answer to protracted ringing, and a woman said, “Dr. Shaw is not in. We have all retired for the night. Good-night.” Policeman Bischoff, when seen last night at his home, 66 East One Hundred and Sixth Street, said, “When the party first went ashore at Oscawana Island, I warned them that it would be dangerous to permit the small children to go near the water. The shore there is lined with rocks, which are fully fifteen feet above the surface of the river. Certainly, it was most imprudent for those who were in charge of the little ones to have permitted them to wade out as the riverbank slopes down, and only an expert swimmer would be safe there.” File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/obits/c/crandall15252nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/vafiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb