Smithtown FD-boy drowns in Millers Pond

February 20, 1956 Edward Eccleston, one day shy of his 15th birthday, fell through the ice at approximately 1520 hours. Police and firefighters made numerous attempts to rescue him. Victim was pronounced dead at 1615 hours by doctor Carl. E. Mueller at the scene. Eccleston of Briaroot Drive was with a friend, cutting across the pond to go to the post office. He fell through the ice about 75 feet from the shore. His companion tried pulling him out using his belt, but the belt broke. A telephone lineman and a highway department employee witnessed the incident and using a ladder and rope, tried to reach rhe boy. This effort failed so the lineman, cut into one of the phone lines and called for help. A passing lumber truck driver, pulled a number of wood doors off the truck and police officer Henry Messana used them to try and reach the child. Messana fell through the ice himself. Despite the cold water, Messana swam over and pulled the boy out by his coat. When he got to the shore, Messana realized that the boy had slipped out of his coat. A boat was requested from the Smithtown Marina. Numerous people went out in the boat and recovered the body from almost the same spot that he went down. Photos and article in 2-21-1957 Smithtown News.