History of Lawrence

Dorgan 1918

The Victims

Not since the cycle of 1890 did Lawrence experience such as calamity as the so-called bathhouse tragedy.  This disaster occurred on June 30, 1913 when a runway leading from the northerly bank of the Merrimack river, a short distance above the dm, to one of the municipal bathhouses, collapsed and 11 boys, ranging in age from eight to 15 years were drowned. Scores of others were saved through the heroic work of volunteer rescuers.

  The youngsters crowded on the walkway which extended out over the water to the entrance of No. 1 bathhouse, restlessly awaiting the arrival of William Blythe, the attendant, who was to admit them for the first swim of the season.  

    Without warning, the runway collapsed.  A panic ensued, and immediately the water was a mass of struggling boys.  Their wild cries for help, mingled with those of their companions who were out of danger, attracted a few men who were in the vicinity of the scene.

    Indeed, the one bright spot in the whole sad affair was the heroic way in which men and boys alike went to the work of rescue and resuscitation.  Many a boy who figured in the terrible happening owes h is life to some police officer, doctor, or civilian who assisted ether in his rescue or in the application of first aid principles after his removal from the water.  

    The heroism of young Joseph McCann, a 15 year old crippled lad, who numbered among the victims, perhaps outshone that of all others, for he gave his life that somebody else's son might live. Young McCann was on the river bank when he saw his companions suddenly thrown into peril.  Without hesitation he jumped into the river.  Although a cripple, he was a good swimmer, and he struck out bravely toward the mass of struggling boys.  But as soon as he reached them, he was desperately grasped by several of the terrified lads, and drawn down to a watery grave.  

    One young man, Henry Hinchcliffe, then 16 years of age, has since been awarded the Carnegie Medal for bravery and afforded a college education by the Carnegie Hero Fund.  He was one of the first to the rescue and under great difficulties succeeded in bringing a number of the drowning boys to safety.  Lyman Parker and Charles Patterson were at the Lawrence Canoe Club on the opposite shore when they  heard the outcries.  They crossed the river in a power boat.  Both dived for bodies and assisted by John Keefe, recovered a number that were afterwards resuscitated.  Sergeant Timothy J. O'Brien of the Police department directed the first aid work. 

    Shortly after the calamity, the city government abolished bathhouses.  The relatives of each of the 11 victims were compensated in the sum of $100 to defray the funeral expenses.  

    Judge Jeremiah J. Mahoney of the district court held an inquest into the fatalities.  In his finding he declared that the accident was due to the insufficiency of the fence or railing which crumpled away under the great and unusual weight thrown against or upon it when the runway settled, and that the settling of the runway was due to the fact that only one ledger board supported it instead of two.  He expressed the believe that had the runway been supported by two ledger boards, the accident would not have occurred.