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Transcription of
article in Lawrence Evening Tribune, August 18, 1898: Twelve Years Old Boy
Drowned Yesterday
Dennis was crying bitterly, because
he recognized the silent form as that of cousin, whose name was also Dennis
Fitzpatrick. The boy hastened home
with his sad news, which he announced at once to anxious relatives.
Little Dennis Fitzpatrick was
drowned in the pitiless Merrimack, which is claiming so many victims this year.
It was shortly after noon yesterday when he, in company with James Butler
and John Mulcahy, boys of about his own age, started to go to the bath house on
the north bank of the Merrimack. On
arriving at the house the boys with the exception of Fitzpatrick, who could not
swim, enjoyed a bath and then a walk to Glen Forest was proposed.
Young Fitzpatrick refused to accompany his friends saying the distance
was too great. His friends tried to persuade him but all their entreaties were
met with a firm refusal. Finally
the boys started away, and when they last saw their comrade he was sitting on
the bank of the river curiously watching the water as it rushed onward to the
sea. As he reclined on the bank the boy’s face was illuminated by a smile of
childish wonder and amusement and in his sunny eyes there were no signs of
anxiety. But the angel of death was hovering near and it was not long
before the dread summons came.
Just how Fitzpatrick met his death
is not known. Investigation by the
police shows that he went on one of the wharves near the Startled Fawn after his
companions left him. Here he met a
crowd of boys and while playing with them he fell from the wharf into deep
water. The strong current carried
him under the wharf and he was drowned before assistance could reach him.
The boys who had been playing with him dragged the body from the water
and, then, becoming frightened, ran away. The
boy was discovered by an attendant at one of the boat houses and the police were
notified.
Meanwhile Mrs. Fitzpatrick had
become anxious at the prolonged absence of her son.
Mr. Fitzpatrick, the boy’s
father, is employed on night work in the Pacific Mills and when he left home
last night his wife said that she was beginning to feel some anxiety about “Dennie.”
Mr. Fitzpatrick cheered his wife with a few words of encouragement but as
he trod along Hampshire Street to his work he could not help thinking that
perhaps something had happened to his son. He never dreamed when he entered the
mill that on his way there he passed within a few feet of the spot where the
body of his little boy was resting wrapped in white linen and awaiting the
coming of some one to identify him.
After supper Mrs. Fitzpatrick could
not restrain herself any longer and she went to the bath house to seek
information of her boy. She learned
nothing save he had been seen there in the afternoon.
While Mrs. Fitzpatrick was her home
the unfortunate boy’s cousin began a search in a different direction.
He was accompanied by Peter McEncaney and they went to Lacaillade’s
undertaking establishment, where they readily recognized the body which had been
taken from the river as that of the missing boy.
Fitzpatrick hastened home and
arrived there before his aunt returned from the river.
He announced that he identified the body, and the friends and neighbors
who had assembled burst into tears. Bessie
Fitzpatrick, a sister of the deceased, became hysterical when she was informed
of her brother’s untimely end.
The sorrow was increased two-fold
when Mrs. Fitzpatrick returned to the grief-stricken home. As she heared the house she saw a number of children
collected near the gate. Some were weeping bitterly, and Mrs. Fitzpatrick said
to a friend:
“What is the matter with them?
‘Dennie’ is all right.”
The anxious mother hurriedly
entered the house, and when she saw the weeping neighbors and friends the truth
dawned upon her and she gave way to a violent outburst of tears.
“My God! What am I to do,”
cried the bereaved woman. Kind
friends endeavored to quiet her, but she was inconsolable until her grief tired
her out, when she became more calm.
Mr. Fitzpatrick was notified of the
accident and after making arrangements for the funeral with Undertaker John D.
Mahoney he hastened home.
The remains were viewed by Dr.
Howe.
The unfortunate boy was a pupil at
St. Mary’s parochial school. He
was a bright scholar and was loved by his companions and teachers.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow.
Burial will be in the Immaculate Cemetery. _________________________________________
Transcribed
from microfiche at Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen, Massachusetts by Cheryl
Doran Girard, July 2004. Email
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