by Laurel | April 5th, 2010
April 5, 1909, page 8
Boy Drowned in the River
Fell off Rock and His Companions were Unable to Rescue Him.
George Therrien, the 13-years-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Telesphore Terrien of 52 Linden Street fell into the river soon after 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon and was drowned. His body had not been recovered up to late last evening. The police department was called up about 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon by P. F. Sullivan of Dwight street, and told that the Therrien boy had fallen into the river, and Officer Hastings and Detective Metcalf were at once sent up with the grapples. From what was learned, it appears that the Therrien boy, with two or three companions, was playing by the river at a big rock just below where the old Holyoke canoe club house stood. The Therrien boy was on the rock and at its base there is a kind of cave, which is next to the river.
The boy endeavored to creep down the side of the rock to this cave, and, losing his footing he fell into the river, which is of some depth at this point. His companions were unable to rescue him, and it was some time after his disappearance before the boys could summon assistance. The search for the boy’s body proved unavailing yesterday, and to-day a boat will be taken up to the point and another endeavor to recover the body will be made. There is quite a current in the river at this point, and a little below an eddy sets in, where it is thought the body may be found. The parents were overcome with grief when they learned of the boy’s fate later in the afternoon. The boy’s father is well known in the city, being employed as a shoemaker by Fay and Shumway.
