Two well-known young Follansbee men drowned and six-companions were rescued when their overloaded boat capsized in the middle of the Ohio river opposite 24th Street, Wellsburg, at 9:04  on Sunday night. The other occupants, William Lewis, John McFredrise, John Ryan and Dave Jones of Follansbee, and George Jones and E. Blankensop, oarsman, of Wellsburg, were saved by rescuers from a nearby camp when cries of help were heard.  The drowning was the sad ending of a birthday picnic party given by Dave Jones in a small grove on the Mingo bottoms side of the Ohio River. William “Red” Blakley was 23 and Harry Johnson 27. Blakley first tried to save Johnson, but became exhausted and failed to make it to shore. The Mingo bottoms were a very popular picnic and camping location for West Virginia residents who crossed the river to escape the Sunday Laws that outlawed drinking.

• Follansbee Review, “Wm. Blaklely and Harry Johnson Drown,” August 4, 1916, front page.