Well, I gave up and typed the whole article because I couldn't extract it from
the site.  Thought I should share it with others.   - Judy Canant (ps - have
not spellchecked or proofed it yet so excuse errors.)
 
SUMTER WATCHMAN
EXTRA
SPECIAL TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE TO KINGSVILLE FOR THE WATCHMAN
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT!

TWENTY FIVE PERSONS DROWNED
BOYKIN'S MILL POND, NEAR CAMDEN
THE SCENE
MONDAY MORNING MAY 7, 1860 -- SIX OCLOCK

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT

Through the courtesy, attention and kindness of the telegraphic operator at
Camden, Mr Witherspoon, and the telegraphic operator at Kingsville, Mr Dean
and  Mr  J J Evans the gentlemanly and accomodating conductor of the
Wilmington and Manchester Railrad, we are permitted to lay before our readers
at this early hour, in advance of the mail, the following particulars of one
of the most heart rending and afflictive accidents it has been our melancholy
udty to chronicle, in having transpired within the (_____) of our State.
The startling rumor which reached our town on yesterday morning, and which
agitated with the painful and excited suspense the minds of our citizens has
been proven to be all too true. 
On Saturday morning last, a most happy company, composed of young ladies and
geltlemen,  children and parents, left their homes in Camden for a day of
recreative pleasure and amusement at Boykin's Mill Pond, about ten miles this
side of that place, and upon the line of the railroad.  these were joined by
others from the neighborhood, forming a party of considerable size.
the fore part of the day (the distressing accident occurred late in
theafternoon), was spent most happily and pleasantly by the excursionists.
The pic-nic and fishing excursion for such it was, had fully met, thus far,
the bouyant anticipations of those concerned.  But what a finale!  The heart
droops and is weithed down by the most pungent sorrow at its recital.

A flat boat of considerable size had, a short time previous, been buiolt and
placed upon the pond for purposes of pleasure.  A goodly number  (thirty or
more) of the company embarked upon this boat, intending to pass over and
around the poond. These consisted chiefly of young ladies, there being but a
sufficient number of gentlemen, as was supposed , to manage the boat and
afford company and protection for the ladies.
They had been out some time and were near the centre of the pond, when the
boat ran on a snag.  This excited little or no fears, as it was supposed that
a speedy extrication could be effected.  All was life and spirit - all was
hope and happiness!  Soon it was perceived that the great pressure of the boat
upon the snag (in consequence of the number it contained) was puncturing its
bottom and that the water was making its way inside.  Now the excitement
began.  Now fear began to picture its sad traces upon those just now happy
countenances.  Now the tender and timid ladies called upon their protectors
for that assistance and deliverance which painful to say they were unable to
afford.  Momentarily the danger became greater, and momentarily the excitement
of those on board, as well as those on shore, became more intense.  It seems
that deliverance would have come, and that the boat would have probably been
pushed off and run near enough to the shore for many if not all to have
escaped.  Had it not been that those who sttood at each end, (a white man and
a negro.) with their poles, laboring with all their power, shoved each in the
same direction, thus mutually destroying the effect of their efforts.  Soon,
in a few moments, she began to sink!  When this was seen, and the fact that
she could not be moved became too apparent, the scene became frightful indeed.
The wildest excitement and fear seemed to seize every heart, and but few if
any were sufficiently collected to enable them to employ their effort for
rescue advantgeously.  In a few moments, now, she sank.  When the scene may be
better imagined than described.
Piercing cries and shrieks, and calls for help, both from those on shore and
those on the unfortunate boat, filled the air.  Sisters and brothers, parents
and children, relatives and friends, whose hearts were bound together by the
nearest and dearest of earthly ties, and animated by the warmest and most
tender affection, were there - some on the sinking boat and some on the shore.
Oh how rudely were those confiding hearts torn asunder and ravished with wild
and aching grief!
The boat seems to have committed them to the bosom of the water, huddled
together, mainly, in a mass.  The water is supposed to have been about twenty
feet in depth.  thus thrown together in one clinging to the other, with that
grasp which belongs only to those in a drowning condition, there was little
opportunity for the males in the company to rescue the ladies or even to save
themselves.
But a few, we have not been apprised of the exact number, were saved, of those
upon the boat.  One act of daring, manly and gallant bravery which has been
reported to us, and which we believe true, demands especial notice at our
hands, and should be rewarded by the lifetime gratitude of those immediately
concerned, as well as the relatives and friends of the same.  Mr Jones, a
fireman upon the Camden train Ithis train was, as well as we can learn, at the
time of the awful occurrance, near the spot), rushed to the spot, and by
almost super-human efforts, coupled with most cool and manly courage, brought
three of the drowning persons to the shore.  We have not learned the names of
these.
The following are the names of those telegraphed to us from Camden (lower part
of this column is damagednd we cannot read this line) --stated with one
exception:
Miss Lizzie McKagen, a lovely sister of Mr Isaac McKagen, of our town, Willie
McKagen, a younger brother of the same; Luke (Lucius) and William LeGrand,
brothers, one of them a brother-in-law of Mr McKagen above mentioned.  
Miss Sarah Nettles, Two Misses McCowns, Miss Minnie Alexander, daughter of Mr
Isaac Alexander, of Camden).  Miss Howell, Miss Crosby, Miss Henson, Two
misses Yound and one brother, Miss Mary Jenkins, Mr. Hocott, Mr. Huggins, Mr
Jery McLeod, Mr John Oaks, Miss Kelly, Little Alice Robinson (a sweet little
girl), Mr S S Richburg, (Surveyor, formerly of this place.)  Mr Richburg, with
noble devotion, lost his life as we  understand, attempting to save another.
These, with two negroes, complete the melancholy list.:
Two ladies, (Mrs Carter and Mrs Steakel,) the wives of engineers upon the
Wilmington and Manchester railraos, got upon the boat when about to start, as
we learn, but thinking the crowd to great, determined not to remain, thus, no
doubt, narrowly escaping death.
Efforts to rescue the bodies of the unfortunate drowned were immediately
employed.  Some were taken from the waters.  Others could not be found.  The
flood-gates of the pond were soon hoisted, but the body of water was great and
could not be soon run off.  It was thought that it would be sufficiently dry
on Saturday night to admit of all the bodies being found.  We have not learned
the number that had been found, when our dispatch was sent.
Camden is shrouded in gloom, and many of its citizens overwhelmed by the most
severe affliction and bereavement.
At half past three on yesterday, eight bodies were at the Methodist church,
where funeral ceremonies were being performed, to the presence of a large
congregation.  Almost every eye was moistened by the tear of sympathy or
bereavement.
Mr Billings, one of those who was upon the boat and was saved, says that
twenty-seven persons were drowned.  This conflicts with the above statement,
as to number, and may be correct.
We expect further particulars by telegraph to kinsville this morning, and will
hasten to place before our readers all information received by us in regard to
this truly terrible accident.

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