Four Men Drowned
The Terrible Accident that Befell Italian Laborers
While Crossing The River In a Skiff
Submitted by: Shirley Reed
IRONTON REGISTER,
THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1887.
Last Friday night, four Italians employed
by Rosazza, Manuel & Co. on the Maysville & Big Sandy road-bed
across the river, came over to Ironton in a skiff, and returning
about 11 o'clock were drowned just before reaching the Kentucky
shore. The cause of the said accident is unknown. None of the men
knew much about rowing, and they must have become frightened as
the waves of a passing towboat overtook them and in trying to
control the skiff, upset it; or perhaps they struck a snag and
overturned their boat. It was found capsized and floating, several
miles down the river.
Nobody suspicion that the men were
drowned until the next day. They left the Ohio shore at the ferry
landing, where Capt. Young and wife and daughter and Mr. Rosazza
who boards with them, were waiting for a skiff to take them over
the river, after the commencement exercises. The Italians rowed
down from Hafle's float to where these people were standing to see
if their craft might not accommodate them also, but as they drew
near, Capt. Young remarked that there were enough in it already,
and the men rowed cheerily out into the river. Ten minutes
afterwards, the group on the ferry float heard them shout
apparently from the other side, but they didn't dream that the
Italians were in trouble. Mr. Rosazza remarked to the others with
a laugh that he guessed the boys were scared at that towboat,
which at that moment was passing up stream. Soon after, Will
Kirker joined Capt. Young's party and they rowed over the river
and landed within a few hundred yards of where the bodies of the
poor fellows were found on Sunday.
Their names were Battista Merlo,
Ginseppe Rosazza Berlina, Giovanna Volz, and Battista Peraldo. The
first and third were married, Merlo having a wife and three
children and Volz a wife, in Italy. Berlina was a nephew of one of
the Rosazzas, belonging to the firm which employed him. He was the
only support of his mother in Italy, and by sending this paper
with the account of his death to the Italian Minister, his friends
will procure the release of a younger son from the Italian army,
that he in turn may assume this dutiful office. Peraldo's father
works at Buena Vista, Ky. The married men were about 40 years old
and the others about 22. All had been in this country but a few
months. There were stone cutters and masons, and Merlo especially
is spoken of as a steady, intelligent man.
Berlina and Peraldo were to meet Mr.
Barrett at the River Saturday morning to go down near Greenup to
take photographs, and when they did not come he made the first
inquiry which led to a search for them, and aroused a suspicion
that they might be drowned, but this theory many disbelieved until
the ferry boat brought one of the bodies to the surface Sunday
morning. It seems remarkable that they should drown so near the
shore, and when with only ordinary caution there could be no
danger. They had doubtless been drinking, but were not
intoxicated. By afternoon, all the bodies were found. The one
farthest up stream being 50 yards above the ferry float, where it
is supposed the unfortunate men met their fate. Squire Swearingen
of Russell held an inquest and the remains were brought to Ironton
for burial.
The terrible catastrophe fell like a pall upon the company
of Italians at work on the railroad. they came from all points
along the line to attend the funeral, which was held Monday
afternoon. Peraldo's father and brother were among the number. The
bodies were taken from O'Keefe & Hanichen's in four hearses,
followed by a long line of carriages containing Italians and
sympathizing citizens. It was a solemn spectacle. None so unusual
was ever seen in Ironton before. The remains were in plain
coffins, with a crucifix and a card bearing the name of deceased
on each. The procession proceeded directly to St. Joseph's
cemetery, where Rev. Father Boden conducted brief services, and
the coffins were placed side by side in one grave. |
