Elizabeth Town Gazette

GLOUCESTER, (Mass.) May 14.

Melancholy Event.--Drowned at Gloucester (Harbor) on Sunday last, during public worship, William Turner, Benjamin Butler, William Smith and James Smith. The two last were brothers. These young lads, the oldest of which was short of 18, and the youngest about 14, were out at a distance from the wharf in a small rowboat, for the purpose of fishing and diversion. They were seen by the Tithingman, who ordered them to come ashore, and go either directly home or to meeting, but they refused. Not long after when returning to the wharf, and within a few rods of it, the boat suddenly upset, and they sunk together to rise no more. Another boy, who was in the boat with them, was saved. A man on shore saw them sink; but before they could be taken from the water, life was gone--their souls had departed.

On Monday their remains were carried to the Meeting-house, where funeral solemnities were performed in presence of an exceedingly numerous and affected assembly.

It is devoutly hoped, that this solemn event, will serve as a warning to youth and all others, not to profane God's Holy day. In the multitudes who have been drowned on the Sabbath, when sailing for pleasure, when bathing, or doing unnecessary business, we see the judgment of God -his awful displeasure against the Sabbath breaker.

Let parents be admonished by this event, to look well to their households, especially on the Sabbath. Let them take their children to the house of God; and before and after the hours of public worship, let them see that their children and servants are in the house, attending to the private duties of the Sabbath, instead of walking the streets and fields for amusement or mischief. Let them remember the curse which God brought upon Eli and his house, 'because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.' And let them consider how the profanation of the Sabbath, tends to obliterate all reverence of God and his word, to open the way to all kinds of iniquity to wretchedness in time and eternity.