JOHN ALBERT
DROWNED
IN LAKE DESCHENES
SEPT. 19, 1897
AE. 19 YRS. & 1 MO.
The following narrative was published in
The Evening Journal (Ottawa), 20 September 1897.
Albert Venn, aged 19 years, son of Geo. F. Venn, 69 Elm street and William Holland, 21 years and 11 months of age, eldest son of Mr. Geo. Holland, today lie in watery graves at the bottom of Lake Deschenes.
They were drowned while crossing the lake from Aylmer yesterday afternoon about 4.30. Willie Holland sank about 9.30 and Albert Venn about an hour later.
Willie Ross Jamieson, son of W. A. Jamieson, lives to tell the story, which is very broken owing to his very weak condition, he having been in the cold waters from 4.30 yesterday afternoon until 2 o'clock this morning, when he drifted ashore about 2 miles above Britannia. When Mr. Jamieson found the shore he lay upon the sand in so enfeebled a condition that he could not stand. He reached home at 6.50 this morning and now lies very near the point of death.
The three young men, Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Venn and Mr. Holland, prepared about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon to sail to Aylmer. Mr. Holland took his boat, "The Lady of the Snows," and the three sailed out of the bay at Britannia. There was a stiff wind blowing at the time. White caps were rolling, but the young men thought the day a delightful one for a sail. They were all good swimmers and experienced boatmen. They reached Aylmer safely after a very pleasant trip across the lake. Leaving their friends at Aylmer they started on the return trip about 4 o'clock. That trip was the beginning of the last, two of the young men would ever make.
When they left Aylmer the wind was still high, and they anticipated a quick journey home. About half an hour after leaving Aylmer the wind fell and Mr. Holland decided to put up the jigger. He moved from his place and had almost accomplished his task when a squall struck the boat and it immediately overturned. The three young men were thrown into the icy waters. At first they did not consider their condition a very dangerous one, having hopes that they would be able to right the boat and resume their journey.
At once they threw off their coats and began their labors. For an hour they worked, but without success. Their courage kept up. Six o'clock came and they were still struggling with their boat, having accomplished nothing. Seven o'clock passed, and the young men cheered each other with the hope that soon they would be in their boat if they only persevered. But eight o'clock passed and nine o'clock came and they were still struggling. Willie Holland was growing weak. Mr. Jamieson noticed that every few moments his face would duck in the water and the young man would gasp. Mr. Jamieson swam up to him and asked him if he were tired. Holland replied "Yes," and asked his friend to sustain him until he had a rest. Jamieson caught him by the collar and held him for some time.
Becoming tired Jamieson asked Holland if he could hold on for himself now for some time.
Holland thought he could, and so was left to himself. He at once began to sink, and Jamieson hurried to him. Willie Holland sprang at him and grabbed Jamieson by the cap and hair. This action nearly meant the death of both young men. With a desperate effort Jamieson tore himself loose from the grasp of his drowning companion. Venn came to the scene, and the two young men assisted Holland to the back of the boat. Jamieson then took the precaution to tie the arm of Mr. Holland with one of the sail ropes.
Upon being seated upon the boat Jamieson thinks he heard Willie Holland groan and give a fearful gasp, and believed he died there and then. He did not fall off the boat until some minutes later, and that is the last that was seen of him.
Although their energies were nearly exhausted, the two remaining young men still struggled to right their boat. They succeeded and their hopes sprang high. Mr. Jamieson leaped into the boat and looked for his friend, Albert Venn. He saw him, but to his dismay he was sinking about 15 feet away from him. With scarcely strength enough to move, Mr. Jamieson sprang from the boat and hurried to his drowning friend. He succeeded in catching him as he was going down. He assisted him to the boat, both men more dead than alive.
The last hope faded when they caught their boat and attempted to get in. The boat overturned, and they were left struggling together.
Nearly exhausted and with barely strength enough to paddle a stroke towards the floating boat, both men succeeded in again catching the ropes and the side of the boat.
Clinging to this for some time, Jamieson and Venn floated with the stream. Both young men were nearly numbed by the cold. Jamieson noticed that his friend was gradually sinking. With the heart of a hero and the endurance of a lion, he forced his way to the only human being he might ever see in this world again.
Catching Venn by the coat collar, he held him for some time. The strength of both was fast giving way and neither one could hold out much longer. Mr. Venn could not keep his head above water. His face would fall into the water every two or three minutes. Jamieson tried to find a rope to tie him to, but could not. His friend he knew to be nearly gone. He himself had barely strength to sustain his own life.
He managed to secure a good hold of the boat for Venn, and then was about to seek the same for himself. Mr. Jamieson had just left his friend when he saw him lose his hold, his head drop on his breast, and his hands go up into the air. He hurried to him, but he was too late. Mr. Venn had gone, and no efforts of his could bring him back. This was about 10.30 p.m., just about an hour after Holland had gone to the bottom.
Alone upon the lake Jamieson found himself. It was bitter cold and the night was inky in its blackness. He could see no lights and could scarcely find the boat. He expected his end would come shortly. He managed to climb atop of the boat and further than that he cannot tell other than at what he thought was about 2 o'clock he fell upon the sand bank about a mile above the Britannia light house.
This is the story of another of a series of sad drowning accidents that have occurred on Lake Deschenes; as told by young Jamieson when he reached home this morning in a weakened condition.
This morning Miss Jamieson arose about 6.30 and went down stairs. She had just lighted the fire and gone to the door to see if her brother was coming over from Aylmer, believing that he had remained there over night. She had just reached the door when she saw her brother almost exhausted and without any clothing other than a light pair of drawers staggering towards the house. He could not talk or give any explanation at the time further than "The boys are drowned and I have been in the water 9 hours and a half." He was at once taken to bed and warm stimulants given him. He recovered sufficiently to give the outlines of the story as given in this report.
Mr. George Holland, father of the drowned boy, stated to a Journal reporter that he laid awake nearly all last night waiting for his boy. He feared something was wrong, he was so late returning. Late at night he thought he heard the boy's door open and shut. He then went peacefully asleep. This morning he arose only to find that he had been mistaken. He dressed and went to the door of his residence on the Richmond road. He looked down the roadway to see if his son were coming. He thought he might have remained with friends over night and would be in shortly. He went inside and had just closed the door when the bell rang. He felt at once, he says, that sad tidings awaited him. Mr. Crain, who had come in from Britannia, was at the door when it opened. He told Mr. Holland he thought the boy was hurt, as he heard people in Britannia calling for brandy, etc. Mr. Holland at once went for his bicycle and was about to start, when Mr. P. Hennigan rode up and told him the whole sad story.
When The Journal representative arrived on the scene he found young Jamieson sleeping and too weak to be interviewed. Mr. Andrew Holland and Mr. George Holland in company with Mr. Jamieson's father, were searching the beach for any signs of the floating bodies. They were unsuccessful.
The boat was found about 20 rods from where young Mr. Jamieson had fallen upon the sand. The main mast and sail is gone and it is thought that body of Willie Holland will be found tied to this mast, and perhaps also the body of Mr. Venn will be found caught in the sheets.
Searching parties had not gone out at noon today, because Mr. Jamieson was not strong enough to give sufficient information to anyone as to just where the young men sank.
Mr. Andrew Holland says he thinks if the wind continues to blow into shore all day the bodies will be picked up upon the beach inside of twenty-four hours.
It is hardly necessary to say that the sympathy of the city goes out to the bereaved families in their affliction. From the youngest to the oldest in Ottawa and surrounding country to whom both families are well known the warmest sympathy is extended.
Mr. A.R.M. Boulton, who lives at Britannia states that the young men could not have left the bay at Britannia at 2 o'clock. He says he is confident that it was nearer 4 o'clock when he left. The boat in which the young men were, was an open St. Lawrence sailing skiff and is considered a very safe boat. The young men did not take their big sail with them, but had only a medium sized sail. Their jigger Mr. Boulton says, was very small. Mr. W.W. Wyld also says it was later than 2 o'clock when the boys left Britannia.
Mr. William Smith, Senate reporter, stated this morning that he was at Aylmer yesterday afternoon, and about five o'clock saw three boys in their sail boat. They appeared to be all right at the time and were returning to Britannia.
Albert Venn, is the young man who finished first in the Primrose road race on Saturday, and he was a good sailor and bicyclist.
Willie Holland was for some time employed on the reporting staff of the Citizen, but has not been on the paper for about a month. The three boys were close companions and frequently sailed together.
Searching parties went out at noon today. They found the mast of the skiff, but Holland's body was not tied to it.
THE TRAGEDY ON DESCHENES
News of another tragedy on Lake Deschenes bring sorrow to many in Ottawa who know the families of the lads drowned yesterday. The sympathy of the public with the parents and relatives will be not less keen because the summer was over and it was perhaps the last chance fate had to strike such a blow.
No other accident had happened on the lake this year. A season passed without fatality would have done much to banish the feeling that the lake is exceptionally dangerous for there have been an unusually large number of summer residents on the shores of the lake this season, and a great deal of boating. But beyond question the utmost care is needed in the use of sailing boats on Deschenes. Care is needed in sailing anywhere but the configuration of the body of water between Aylmer and Britannia undoubtedly tends to sudden squalls which must be watched for unfailingly. It is said that the unfortunate lads who met their fate yesterday knew how to handle a sailing boat properly, the accident being due to only to a moment's unpreparedness. The warning is the more impressive to those who go pleasuring on the lake.
It is something to the friends of the drowned, and an additional spur to public sympathy, to know that the lads met their fate with courage and unselfishness, doing the best they could for each other. That is the stock their country needs and is proud of, and finds it hardest to lose.
According to the Ontario death registration (1897 #006864), John Albert Venn, age 19, jeweler, residence 69 Elm, died of accidental drowning.
The monument includes an upturned boat above the inscription.