The Daily Dispatch: July 19, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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Unfortunate occurrence--five persons Drowsed.

--An unfortunate occurrence took place about half-past 5 o'clock Sunday morning, whereby five colored persons, four men and one woman, were drowned. It appears that a party of nine negroes, consisting of seven men and two women, were returning to the city in a small batteaux from across the river, near Mt Pleasant, where they had been on a visit to a dancing party. The boat was very small, not calculated for more than four persons. It is supposed that some of the negroes were intoxicated. When within a half mile of this side, between Market and State wharves, the boat, which had been rapidly filling with water, gave signs of sinking, and having nothing to ball with, those in the boat set up a distressing scream for help — Their cry was responded to by a watchman, who aroused three Spanish fishermen asleep on board the smack Louisa, to go to the relief of the drowning party. Without taking time to done their wardrobe, they immediately manned their large yawl boat and went to their assistance. Before they could reach the spot, the boat swamped and capsized. The fishermen arrived just in time to rescue two of the men and one woman. One man swam a short distance to a wood boat, and was saved. The fishermen were obliged to catch those saved by reaching for them arms length under water, as the whole party were about sinking for the last time. Five of the party, four men and one woman, were lost, and an unsuccessful attempt made to recover their bodies.--Charleston Courier, 15th.