Child drowned, 1874

Hagerstown Weekly Mail
09-25-1874

Child Drowned—A distressing incident.

—Early on Friday morning of last week, Wm. Sherman Benner, about 9 years old, the son of Mr. Frank Benner, of Sharpsburg, fell from his father's boat into the canal near Weverton, and was drowned. Mr. Benner had told the little boy to go in to the feed room of the boat for something, and on running in he struck his head against the top of the door with such force as knocked him overboard.

The poor father's feelings on this occasion can be better imagined than described. He was within a few yards of his little son, and listening to his frantic and agonizing cries for help, and after seeing him rise to the surface several times, finally sink forever into his watery grave, and he, through his inability to swim, unable to extend a hand to save him, or give the assistance so pitifully cried for.

The body was afterwards recovered by Mr. Jno. Barnhart, of Sandy Hook, and it was brought up to Sharpsburg on the afternoon train on Friday.