St. John, Aug. 31 - A lamentable drowning accident occurred this morn. in the falls at the point commonly called 'the pots' directly opposite Cushing's mill. The victim was Joseph J. WHALEN, a young man well known about time. It appear that Whalen had arranged a hunting expedition up river with his brother, Fred WHALEN. He had purchased a birk bark canoe and intended to enjoy a few days outing. The brothers started this morn. from near the bridge and had hardly got under way before they realized they were too late for the tide which was then considerably past still water. Directly opposite Cushing's mill is a narrow channel through which the tide runs strongly at all times. At the time of the accident it was running with great velocity. The men in the cano evidently saw their danger and Joe Whalen, who held the bow, was carefully keeping the fragile craft in a line with the current. All went well until Joe went to change his paddle to the other side. As soon as he lifted it the current caught the canoe, which instantly capsized. Both men were good swimmers and after holding tot he canoe for a while, they made an effort to swim to a small island close by. In the meantime assistance was coming. Charles HAMM of Carleton, was going up the falls in a dory and when he saw the accident he exerted himself to his utmost strength to reach them. He succeeded in reaching the spot just in time to save Fred Whalen who was almost exhausted. Has Joe Whalen kept on swimming to the island, it is probable that he would have been saved, but when he saw the boat coming to the resue he turned and swam to meet it, disregarding the warnings of the millmen. Before the boat could reach him he had again got into rough water, right in the middle of a whirlpool. His strength being gone he could not save himself and was drawn down into the seething waters and was seen no more.