On October 19, 1874, John Westley Walker and his nephew, Edward Walter “Eddie” Walker, drowned in the “Big Pool” of the C&O canal located in Washington County, Maryland. Below is one of several newspaper articles that described what happened.
The Evening Star newspaper, Washington D.C., edition of Wednesday, October 21, 1874, page 4, column 3;
“GEORGETOWN.
A SAD BEREAVEMENT. – The remains of Capt. John W. Walker and his little nephew, Eddie, a lad of about five years, arrived in Washington by rail last evening, in charge of a committee of Potomac Lodge Knights of Pythias, of Williamsport, Md. The Cumberland papers state that about 7 o’clock Monday morning, while crossing what is known as the “Big Pool,” on the 14-mile level of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, 116 miles above this city, where the river and the canal are one, and where the water is from 20 to 40 feet deep, the little boy, who was only six years old, fell into the water, and the uncle jumped in after him and succeeded in reaching him and clasped him in his arms, but for some cause could not swim further and sank. In a few minutes his pocket-book rose to the surface of the water and remained there until the grab-hooks were lowered and the bodies recovered. The wife and family of the deceased were on board the boat, and all arrived at their home, corner of 23rd and G streets, Washington, yesterday afternoon. Capt. Walker was about 50 years of age, and a man universally respected by all who knew him. The shock to Mrs. Walker in viewing the drowning of her husband, while powerless to assist him, was intense. When the bodies were recovered the lad was folded within the arms of his uncle, who had lost his own life in heroic efforts to save the child. Capt. Walker was a member of Harmony lodge, No. 21, of Washington, and was buried by them with imposing ceremonies at 3 o’clock this afternoon. The remains of both were interred in the Congressional cemetery.”
The records of Congressional Cemetery, Washington D.C. indicate they were buried side-by-side in adjoining burial plots:
John W. Walker
Born: Unknown
Died: 10/19/1874
Service: 10/20/1874
Section: 5
Range: 2
Site: 82d
Edward Walker
Born: Unknown
Died: 10/19/1874
Service: 10/20/1874
Section: 5
Range: 2
Site: 82c