The Late Calamity on the Satilla River – List of the Lost.

Correspondence of the Savannah Republican.

SATILLA MILLS, Ga., Wednesday, June 24, 1868.

Editor Savannah Republican:
SIR: A party of twenty-five colored people left this place on Sunday morning last, 21st [illegible] in a small boat, to attend a meeting at Woodbine Plantation, some six miles up the river. On their return, and when they had nearly reached the wharf from which they had started, the boat was suddenly capsized by a squall, and nineteen persons were drowned. The accident took place at about 8 o’clock P. M. and it being Sunday no boats were on the river at the time, consequently, before any could be manned and got to them, all but six had drowned. The boat was overloaded, and most its occupants unexperienced, though the majority were good swimmers. The names of those lost were HORATIO WIGGINS, HILDRETH WATSON, PETER BRADLEY, MOROH CROJEE, JOSEPH WALKER, LORENZO HARRIS, THOMAS ALLEN, ARTHUR HURLEY, HENRY HURLEY, (aged about twelve years), LEROY LEWIS and his wife ANN, SAMNEL [Samuel ?] NOYES and wife, RICHARD ALLEN, wife and child, NORMAN CRAWFORD and wife , and MARIA GOODBREAD. Those saved succeeded in getting on the boat after she capsized, and drifted to the shore. All those on board were residents of this place, and nearly all of them were very worthy people. The men were in the employ of the Norwich Lumber Company. The boat was managed by Richard Allen, who had a great deal of experience at Key West, and no blame can possibly be attached to him. The fault of overloading the boat, which would not have been allowed had any of the white population seen them embark; but they started at an early hour in the morning before hardly any one was astir.

The New York Times, New York, NY 5 Jul 1868
__________________

Transcribed by Jenni Lanham. Thank you, Jenni!