Williamsport, PA Drowning, May 1884

TWO MEN DROWNED

WHILE CROSSING THE RIVER AT SLIDING ROCK.

The Boat Contains Five Men and Three Escape Edward Gray and John (?) the Unfortunates Samuel Cook Among the Saved.

Last evening about 7 o’clock, as Samuel Cook, John Martin, Edward Gray, John Johnson and Jacob Getchy were crossing the river at Sliding Rock, a short distance west of the Susquehanna Station, the boat from some cause upset and the occupants were thrown into the river. Cook, Johnson and Getchy succeeded in reaching the shore, but Gray and Martin were drowned. EDWARD GRAY was about 26 years old and resided in Williamsport, where he leaves a wife. JOHN MARTIN was about 56 years old and lived at Antes Fort, where he leaves a wife and four children. Cook resides in Nippenose township, and is the notorious character who was tried and acquitted in the court here last fall on the charge of having murdered John Hanker, at his place, last spring. It was not learned how the parties came to be crossing the river at that point. The water is deep there and they might have been engaged in fishing. The affair is a very sad one. At last accounts the bodies of the drowned men had not been found.

There is an ugly rumor afloat to the effect that Cook who is well known to be a very vicious as well as dangerous character, upset the boat on purpose, but it lacks confirmation. An investigation will no doubt be made and as two of the party beside himself escaped, they should be able to tell whether the charge is true.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport, PA 6 May 1884
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