Camden Courier-Post, August 12, 1954View transcription
Shown working (left to right), are Fireman Wesley Faust, Capt. Arthur Batten, Firemen John Yates, of Rescue Squad 1, Mario Fattore, of Engine 2 and Henry Keebler, of Engine 3.
NO HOPE is expressed in the face of this fireman as he and other firemen vainly try to revive Riley Drummond, 12, and his sister, Terry, 7, two of the three Drummond children drowned Wednesday afternoon at Cooper River Park. The body of the third victim, Mary, 8, was taken from the river five hours later. Shown working (left to right), are Fireman Wesley Faust, Capt. Arthur Batten, Firemen John Yates, of Rescue Squad 1, Mario Fattore, of Engine 2 and Henry Keebler, of Engine 3.View transcription
NO HOPE is expressed in the face of this fireman as he and other firemen vainly try to revive Riley Drummond, 12, and his sister, Terry, 7, two of the three Drummond children drowned Wednesday afternoon at Cooper River Park. The body of the third victim, Mary, 8, was taken from the river five hours later. Shown working (left to right) are Fireman Wesley Faust, Capt. Arthur Balten [sic — Batten], Fireman John Yates, of Rescue Squad 1, Mario Fattore, of Engine 2 and Henry Koebler, of Engine 2.
Auto Plunge, Fishing Mishap Hit 2 Families
Five children were drowned Wednesday in two separate water mishaps in the South Jersey area.
A brother and sister lost their lives in a futile attempt to save another sister who toppled into Cooper River in Camden County Park shortly after 4:15 p.m.
At Sea Isle City the two children of an RCA official drowned when a car driven by their mother plunged into a 20-foot channel.
Victims of the Cooper River tragedy were Riley Drummond, 12, and his sisters, Terry, 7, and Mary, 8. They were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Drummond, of 912 Chestnut st.
Planning N. J. Home
The two who lost their lives in Sea Isle City were Charles Daly 3d, 10, and his sister, Ellen Patricia, 7, whose parents, Charles and Eleanor K. Daly, recently sold their home at 135 Woodlawn ave., Upper Darby, Pa., preparatory to occupying their new home at 828 Longwood dr., Haddonfield.
The Drummond children drowned shortly after 4 o'clock less than a block from Kaighns ave. They had been fishing all afternoon alongside the park dam bridge.
The lone witness to the tragedy, Albert J. Davis, 11, of 917 Chestnut st., who had been with the three, told police that Mary stepped on a rock, slipped and toppled into the water. Hearing her sister scream, Terry jumped into the river. Riley followed his sisters in an effort to save them. Albert said the two girls disappeared immediately. Riley started back to the bank but slipped backwards into the water.
Soldiers Lend Aid
The Davis boy ran three blocks to the location of B Battery, 19th AA Battalion and told the soldiers there of the accident. They notified police and firemen. At the same time nine enlisted men ran to the river and began diving for the children.
Rescue Squad 1 from 5th and Arch sts. went to the scene and was joined by the Highland Emergency Squad of Pennsauken Township.
Police and firemen grappled from rowboats while the soldiers in bathing suits searched underwater. The bodies of Terry and Riley were recovered half an hour later. Rescue squad crewmen worked for more than 35 minutes in an effort to revive them. Dr. William A. West, of Cooper Hospital, pronounced the two dead.
Third Body Recovered
The body of Mary eluded all recovery efforts until shortly after 9 p.m. when it was located by Edward Brendlinger, a fireman attached to the rescue squad. It was found 25 feet offshore and within 20 feet of the spot where Riley and Terry's bodies were taken from the water. Firemen said the water is 16 feet deep.
Mary's body was taken to Cooper Hospital morgue where she was pronounced dead.
The rescue efforts were directed by Fire Chief Harry Wagner.
Father Collapses
The children's father, a stevedore employed by the Independent Pier Co., Philadelphia, was reported to have collapsed when he learned of the tragedy. He later joined the crowd estimated at 2000 people which lined the river bank to watch the grappling.
Drummond said the three children never had been to the river, having been told to keep away from the water. He said he was surprised to learn the children had been using homemade fishing poles.
Ironically, Mrs. Viola Ringo, 20, a married sister of the three children, was driving by the scene and saw the crowds watching the rescue attempts. She joined the throng and when Riley's body was brought out of the water, police said she cried hysterically, "That's my brother." In addition to Mrs. Ringo, the Drummonds have two other children, Josephine, 15, and Karl, 23.
Camden Courier-Post, August 12, 1954 — page one columnView transcription
Auto Plunge, Fishing Mishap Hit 2 Families
Five children were drowned Wednesday in two separate water mishaps in the South Jersey area.
A brother and sister lost their lives in a futile attempt to save another sister who toppled into Cooper River in Camden County Park shortly after 4:15 p.m.
At Sea Isle City the two children of an RCA official drowned when a car driven by their mother plunged into a 20-foot channel.
Victims of the Cooper River tragedy were Riley Drummond, 12, and his sisters, Terry, 7, and Mary, 8. They were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Drummond, of 912 Chestnut st.
Planning N. J. Home
The two who lost their lives in Sea Isle City were Charles Daly 3d, 10, and his sister, Ellen Patricia, 7, whose parents, Charles and Eleanor K. Daly, recently sold their home at 135 Woodlawn ave., Upper Darby, Pa., preparatory to occupying their new home at 828 Longwood dr., Haddonfield.
The Drummond children drowned shortly after 4 o'clock less than a block from Kaighns ave. They had been fishing all afternoon alongside the park dam bridge.
The lone witness to the tragedy, Albert J. Davis, 11, of 917 Chestnut st., who had been with the three, told police that Mary stepped on a rock, slipped and toppled into the water. Hearing her sister scream, Terry jumped into the river. Riley followed his sisters in an effort to save them. Albert said the two girls disappeared immediately. Riley started back to the bank but slipped backwards into the water.
Soldiers Lend Aid
The Davis boy ran three blocks to the location of B Battery, 19th AA Battalion and told the soldiers there of the accident. They notified police and firemen. At the same time nine enlisted men ran to the river and began diving for the children.
Rescue Squad 1 from 5th and
(Continued on Page 26 — Column 6)
Camden Courier-Post, August 12, 1954 — page one column detailView transcription
At Sea Isle City the two children of an RCA official drowned when a car driven by their mother plunged into a 20-foot channel. [Readability crop of awesleyfaust-081254-05b.jpg; full text carried on that record.]
Camden Courier-Post, August 12, 1954 — page one column detailView transcription
The Drummond children drowned shortly after 4 o'clock less than a block from Kaighns ave. [Readability crop of awesleyfaust-081254-05b.jpg; full text carried on that record.]
Camden Courier-Post, August 12, 1954 — page one column detailView transcription
The lone witness to the tragedy, Albert J. Davis... Riley started back to the bank but slipped backwards into the water. [Readability crop of awesleyfaust-081254-05b.jpg; full text carried on that record.]
Camden Courier-Post, August 12, 1954 — continued from page oneView transcription
(Continued From Page One)
Arch sts. went to the scene and was joined by the Highland Emergency Squad of Pennsauken Township.
Police and firemen grappled from rowboats while the soldiers in bathing suits searched underwater. The bodies of Terry and Riley were recovered half an hour later. Rescue squad crewmen worked for more than 35 minutes in an effort to revive them. Dr. William A. West, of Cooper Hospital, pronounced the two dead.
Third Body Recovered
The body of Mary eluded all recovery efforts until shortly after 9 p.m. when it was located by Edward Brendlinger, a fireman attached to the rescue squad. It was found 25 feet offshore and within 20 feet of the spot where Riley and Terry's bodies were taken from the water. Firemen said the water is 16 feet deep.
Mary's body was taken to Cooper Hospital morgue where she was pronounced dead.
The rescue efforts were directed by Fire Chief Harry Wagner.
Father Collapses
The children's father, a stevedore employed by the Independent Pier Co., Philadelphia, was reported to have collapsed when he learned of the tragedy. He later joined the crowd estimated at 2000 people which lined the river bank to watch the grappling.
Drummond said the three children never had been to the river, having been told to keep away from the water. He said he was surprised to learn the children had been using homemade fishing poles.
Ironically, Mrs. Viola Ringo, 20, a married sister of the three children, was driving by the scene and saw the crowds watching the rescue attempts. She joined the throng and when Riley's body was brought out of the water, police said she cried hysterically, "That's my brother." In addition to Mrs. Ringo, the Drummonds have two other children, Josephine, 15, and Karl, 23.
The rescue efforts were directed by Fire Chief Harry Wagner... In addition to Mrs. Ringo, the Drummonds have two other children, Josephine, 15, and Karl, 23. [Readability crop of awesleyfaust-081254-09b.jpg; full text carried on that record.]
Firemen at the scene of the Drummond drowning at Cooper River Park, Camden County, August 1954.The page-one column and its page-26 continuation. Camden Courier-Post, August 12, 1954.View transcription
Auto Plunge, Fishing Mishap Hit 2 Families
Five children were drowned Wednesday in two separate water mishaps in the South Jersey area.
A brother and sister lost their lives in a futile attempt to save another sister who toppled into Cooper River in Camden County Park shortly after 4:15 p.m.
At Sea Isle City the two children of an RCA official drowned when a car driven by their mother plunged into a 20-foot channel.
Victims of the Cooper River tragedy were Riley Drummond, 12, and his sisters, Terry, 7, and Mary, 8. They were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Drummond, of 912 Chestnut st.
(Continued From Page One)
Arch sts. went to the scene and was joined by the Highland Emergency Squad of Pennsauken Township.
Police and firemen grappled from rowboats while the soldiers in bathing suits searched underwater. The bodies of Terry and Riley were recovered half an hour later. Rescue squad crewmen worked for more than 35 minutes in an effort to revive them. Dr. William A. West, of Cooper Hospital, pronounced the two dead.
Third Body Recovered
The body of Mary eluded all recovery efforts until shortly after 9 p.m. when it was located by Edward Brendlinger, a fireman attached to the rescue squad. It was found 25 feet offshore and within 20 feet of the spot where Riley and Terry's bodies were taken from the water. Firemen said the water is 16 feet deep.
Mary's body was taken to Cooper Hospital morgue where she was pronounced dead.
The rescue efforts were directed by Fire Chief Harry Wagner.
Father Collapses
The children's father, a stevedore employed by the Independent Pier Co., Philadelphia, was reported to have collapsed when he learned of the tragedy. He later joined the crowd estimated at 2000 people which lined the river bank to watch the grappling.
Drummond said the three children never had been to the river, having been told to keep away from the water. He said he was surprised to learn the children had been using homemade fishing poles.
Ironically, Mrs. Viola Ringo, 20, a married sister of the three children, was driving by the scene and saw the crowds watching the rescue attempts. She joined the throng and when Riley's body was brought out of the water, police said she cried hysterically, "That's my brother." In addition to Mrs. Ringo, the Drummonds have two other children, Josephine, 15, and Karl, 23.
