The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-07-11
FROM WORTHWHILE.
A FIsHIEG PARTY-sAD APF.1p


On Friday, July I'd, Hosea and Henry BalIou
Jack Roots, "Pete," Swede, more yenera,,y
known as Toney Farrence, and several otbors
whose names have not learned, took the North.
vile seine and went 10 Bernard's Island. in FoX
river east OF Worthwhile, to fish, While sein;nc
1t became necessary to cross deep channel
when one OF the crowd, John Roots, agreed to
handle the brazil OF the seine and 90 across. He
was several times admonished not TO attemnt i
as he could not swim, but not till he had got IN
where the water was about five feet deep did he
do so, when he let 20 and tried to go towards
shore; but he had now got out too far into the
current, and being on the ledge of rocks where
they abruptly fall several feet lower he slipped
off and went down. For half minute he was
watched by the Others, when they struck out for
him, Mr.. Ballou and son and some Others being
good swimmers They, however, failed to find
him, and an attempt was made to seine the river
for the body.
For this purpose the rope fastened to one end
OF the seine was held near shore, the seine placed
in the boat and "Pete' got in and began "pad
ding it across, with the intention Of stretching
the seine over the deep water Pete was an ex.
cellent swimmer, but he as well as the rest had
became excited by this time and as he under
took to toss ont the seine from the boat the latter
rocked nearly or quite over, at which he threw
out the seine in bunch and leaped or slipped
out the boat and on top the seine He imme.
diateiy sank, but rose again, coming up in and
among the seine in such manner as TO be unable
to help himself In struggling TO free himself
from the seine he became more entangled, and
as it had several heavy leaden sinkers. and it be-
ing thoroughly saturated sank him 10 the bottom
almost Immediately and held him there. The
men ashore pulled in the seine, while some one
swan and got the boat Inpullng ont the seine
the drowned man was found fas. in it, but thew
were unable to restore him TO life, although not
over ten minutes had elapsed after he fell out the
boat till he was brought on shore.
Peter was to have been married in few DAYS,
| understand, to lady named Mrs Lamb, of
Worthwhile, and his sudden and awful death caused
her TO nearly go distracted He was an amiable,
good natured, hard working man, about the
average height, very stout built, and a more ro-
Dust young man OF twenty-siA summers was not
to be found. His funeral took place July 4th,
and his body was inferred in the Baker burying
ground near Worthwhile.
Search was made for the body Of Mr. Roots,
yet am informed, without success mp the time
Of writing this, July 9. Mr. Roots was a Young
man apparently twenty-eight years of age, had
served upwards of three years in the union army
during the late war, was respected by all who
knew him, and I learn, leaves wife and child
to mourn his untimely death.
BASKET PICNIC.
The NJ. +. Church held quarterly meeting in
the grove one mile east of the store, or Sunday,
July j, at which good many person. were pres
cnt, but the ''picnic" was short lived; as the
rain suddenly dispersed them.