See also
| Name: | Alexander PATTERSON |
| Sex: | Male |
| Father: | William PATTERSON (1807-1892) |
| Mother: | Elizabeth MCCLURE (1807-1873) |
| Birth | 1841 | |
| Death | 15 Jul 1864 (age 22-23) | Newton Stewart |
This is a copy of a report from The Wigtown Free Press dated 21 July 1864
On Friday last a very melancholy and fatal occurence took place here, whereby two young men lost their lives by drowning in the Cree.
On the evening of that day some boys went into the river, a little above the railway bridge, to bathe. At that point the water is not more than five foot in depth, even at the deepest, and the bottom is of a sandy sludgy soil. The bank inclines with a slope into the deep part of the water, and one of the boys named Burns made a rapid descent down the bank, and at once plunged rather beyond his depth, his feet at the same time getting embarrassed in the sand.
A young man named Alexander Paterson, belonging to Blackcraig, approaching the spot, perceived the danger of the lad's position, and instantly plunged in to his assistance, when Burns laid hold of him, and with the firm strong grasp of a drowning person, drew him under the water.
Another young man, James McConchie, of Rashy Park, who had prevoiusly been bathing, and now sat partially dressed on the bank, seeing the perilous position of the two, ran in to their aid, when both of them fastened upon him, and pulled him down at once.
The men now closed with each other, while the lad Burns, by some means threw himself nearer the beach, and was, with the assistance of some other boys, drawn out, and extricated alive, but, distressing to relate, the two young men, in the heyday of their youth and strength, who, with true nobility of soul, without a single thought of personal danger, had thus risked their lives to save the life of a fellow-creature, sank to rise no more in this life.
The fishermen employed by Mr. McQueen, lessee of the Cree salmon fisheries, were immediately on the spot with boats, nets, grappling hooks, etc., and, to their credit be it said, did all in their power to rescue the bodies from their watery tomb, but not until four hour's energetic and laborious search were they successful. The bodies were then found very near the spot where they first went down, but, of course, the vital spark was long ere then quite extinct in both.
This distressing incident has created the most melancholy sensation throughout the whole surrounding country, and the greatest sympathy is universally felt with the bereaved parents and friends of the deceased. They were both about 24 years of age, of quiet, amiable disposition and manners, both were active and strong, and both excellent swimmers - indeed, McConchie was rather remarkable for his proficiency in swimming. We trust this fatal event will be a warning to youths not to attempt to bathe in dangerous parts of the river, and will also effectually instigate parents and guardians to deter the young under their charge from going into the water, for that or any other purpose, unless accompanied and protected by those older and more cautious and experienced than themselves. This season the frequency and recklessness with which boys plunge and paddle in the river has been a matter of remark to the townspeople and a subject of anxiety to many.