Before Mother’s Eyes Three Children Drown in River.
Unusually Sad Tragedy Reported From Valdosta, In Which Mother Vainly Tried To Save Her Little Ones - Alapaha River Claimed The Victims.
Valdosta, Ga., July 14. - Three children of Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Phillips of Stockton, Ga. - Henry, aged 14; Elizabeth, 8; and a baby, 2 ½ years old - were drowned in the Alapaha river near that place late yesterday afternoon, despite the mother’s frantic efforts to save them.
Accompanied by Mrs. J.A. Holtzendorf and her young son, Mrs. Phillips and her children went to the river to bathe.
The little girl got out too far and went down in deep water.
Henry, her brother, dashed in to save her and was himself drowned.
When Mrs. Holtzendorf and Mrs. Phillips ran to the spot, the Phillips baby, whom the mother had left on the bank in her excitement, clung to her skirts and was dragged into the water and drowned.
The two women themselves were exhausted when pulled out by Ben Knowles, who was attracted to the scene by their screams.
Source: Daily Times Enterprise, Thomasville, Georgia, Friday Afternoon, July 14, 1916; Pg. 1
