Drowning 2

I have found two other drowning victims.

The first one is Prentiss Deming son of O.E and S.D. Deming. He drowned Aug 17, 1855.

Prentiss's Grave

The other one is Frank Ives. Son of Martin Van Buren and Sarah Benson Ives. Frank drowned in 1877.

Here is the transcription of the article I found in the Dec 13, 1877 issue of the Potsdam Courier and Freeman:

Sad Case of Drowning- We are pained to announce that at about 2 p.m. last Saturday Frank W., the only child of Mr. and Mrs. M.V.B. Ives, of this village, a bright and promising lad of 9 years, was drowned in the Racket, about a third of a mile above the bridge. Little Frank and the three little boys of Capt. E.C. Knapp were sliding down hill, near the old cemetery lot, on Pierpont Avenue, the west side of which borders on the river. While thus sliding another boy came along and told them that the ice on the river was sufficiently strong to hold, when Frank and the two oldest Knapp boys, aged about 9 and 12, went out on to the river and proceeded to the head of "Snake Island," a little island about 20 rods from the shore. Around the head of the island there is an eddy and in consequence it is supposed that the ice there was thinner and weaker than between the island and shore. They turned around to go back to the shore, the Knapp boys being ahead, when the youngest Knapp boy broke through the ice but got out. Then the eldest Knapp boy fell in and he did not succeed in extricating himself, so Frank and the other Knapp boy went to his rescue, one taking hold of one arm and the other taking hold of the other, and tried to lift him out. While thus at work, the ice gave way and let all three in. The younger Knapp boy succeeded in getting out again, while the older one clung to the ice and Frank want down. The little boy who got out went to the shore and sent his younger brother, who was standing on the shore, for his father, Capt. Knapp, who was at his home, some 100 rods away. Upon notifying Mr. Knapp, the Captain hastened to the spot with all possible haste and found his oldest boy still in the river, clinging to the ice. By means of a ladder laid out on the ice he soon got him out and then made a search for little Frank and found him laying about four feet under the water, evidently held there by a scarf tied around his neck, one end of which had become fastened to the ice. He took him out at once and immediately carried him to his home, near by, where every effort was made by physicians, the family and neighbors to resuscitate him but to no avail. It is thought Frank must have been in the water from 20 to 30 minutes. Mr. and Mrs. Ives are buried in grief at this sudden and sad bereavement, for little Frank was fondly cherished and idolized by them. They have the fullest sympathy of this entire village and community in this hour of their severest affliction. The funeral occurred at their residence, on Pierpont Avenue, on Monday, Dr. J.S. Lee, of St. Lawrence University, officiating.

Frank Ives' Grave