Abbreviations used
Date December 17 1884
County Saint John
Place Saint John
Newspaper The Daily Telegraph
The language of the text is the original used in the newspaper entry and as transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson. Records acquired by the Provincial Archives are not translated from the language in which they originate.
A sad accident happened on the St. John river about 20 miles from Fredericton last Saturday eve. About 6 o'clock, William BRIGGS, formerly in the employ of Samuel COOK, blacksmith, was crossing the river in a dug-out in company with Frederick TURNER. The ice was running at the time and the two men were making from Canterbury station (York Co.) to Shelton's Island where Briggs resided, on the opposite side. When midway across the river, their canoe was so jammed by the ice that it upset and both occupants were thrown out. They succeeded in keeping to the surface for a long time, but they could make no progress to shore among the floes and they remained in the water until they became numb and insensible. Briggs, over 40 years of age, left a wife and seven children. (see original)