Two Persons Drowned

John S. Rue Drowned While Trying to Save Two Boys

Two persons were drowned in the millpond at Millhurst, in Manalapan township, on Monday. After school the boys of the Millhurst public school went to the pond to skate. Emerson B. Probasco and a young son of John S. Rue, the miller, were at the head of the lake and were skating close together when the ice broke and the lads fell into the pond.

The miller saw the accident and ran to help the boys. He fell through a hole in the ice and was drowned. Meanwhile an elder brother of Probasco had gone to the rescue and pulled out the young Rue lad, but could not save his own brother, who went under the ice. The bodies were afterward recovered. Rue was 32 years old. He leaves a widow and children. Emerson B. Probasco was twelve years old, and was the son of Tunis B. Probasco.

The same day Ward Golden fell in lake Topanemus, near Freehold, while skating. He had gone down for the last time when the boys formed a living chain and saved him.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, February 1, 1899

Some additional excellent resources for your research are:

• New Jersey Census, 1772-1890 - Ancestry.com

• Calendar of New Jersey Wills, 1670-1760 - Ancestry.com

• Interment.net - NJ ~ New Jersey Cemetery Transcriptions on the net.

• MyCinnamonToast.com ~ Keep up with FREE databases as they come online