The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, A CABIN CRUISER WAS ANCHORED OUT ON LAKE
ST. CLAIR. A FAMILY (MOTHER, FATHER, AND LITTLE BOY) WERE
OUT ENJOYING AN AFTERNOON ON THE LAKE. SOMEHOW THE LITTLE
BOY FELL OVERBOARD AND HE COULDN'T SWIM. SO HIS MOTHER
JUMPED IN TO SAVE HIM, BUT SHE COULDN'T SWIM EITHER. THERE
WEREN'T ANY LIFE JACKETS ON BOARD. THE FATHER DOVE IN, AND
ALTHOUGH HE COULD SWIM, HE COULDN'T SAVE THEM AND THEY BOTH
DROWNED. THE BOAT WAS LATER FOUND WITH BLOOD AND {FINGER} NAIL
SCRATCHES ALONG THE SIDES. IT WAS SPECULATED THAT THE
FATHER OULDN'T GET BACK IN THE BOAT AFTER TRYING TO SAVE
HIS FAMILY; THERE WERE NO SWIMMING LADDERS, FOOTHOLDS AND
THE GUNWHALE WAS TOO HIGH TO REACH FROM THE WATER LEVEL. THE
STORY WAS PIECED TOGETHER FROM THE EVIDENCE OF THE BOAT AND
ITS CONDITION AND FROM INFORMATION OF FAMILY FRIENDS.

Submitter comment: TOLD AS A TRUE STORY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1969