Obituaries from Orange County
Osborne Evis
from The Evening Gazette
Port Jervis, New York
Thursday, April 22, 1869
Osborne Evis, a colored boy aged fourteen years, driver on the canal, was drowned the night of the 14th, while attempting to get on the boat, near the grist mill in this village. As his hold on the boat loosened he was caught by a comrade, who called to the captain for assistance, but through exhaustion was forced to let the poor fellow go, when he sank in a watery grave.
The canal was dragged the next day and the body recovered. An inquest was held by Coroner Penney, and a verdict of accidental death by drowning rendered.