Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-08-09
Correspondence Of the Free Press and Time.
Montpelier.
FOUR NEy DRAWN OVER TIE DAM-MR. TRUMAN
BEST DROWNED.

BEST DROWNED.
MONTPELIER, August 3.
1T shout / 0 O'Clock this Saturday forenoon
the village Of Montpelier w,s suddenly startled
/ by the report that four men had gone over the
mill dam in two boats, and that probably all
we're drowned. For few minutes there was
! The greatest excitement-men and women run
ming two and fro sad inquiring Of one another,
"Who are they? '' Have You Ieen ny boy p
| until it wss announced that three Of them had
| been rescued, sud Mr. Truman Best wcs the only
one drowned.
The circumstances, &c near "a We csn lesrn
then, are about rs follows MIR Trumsn Best and
Fed Bancroft, son Of Carlos Bancroft, went 20
the mill pond On tie Winoo5ki liver for Tide in
the Aes boat which Mr. Best hal recently pur-
chased. With these we're Mr.. Il. l. Proctor, Of
Viut5n, loEs, and Osnsn D. Clark, son Of Mr.
John CisrS, postmaster Of Montpelier, in an
other boat. The w.te- il the stream was very
high, from the aesvy rains of ,he last few hours,
snl was running with fearful rapility over The
ism. When on; in the stream opposite to tie
b1st hoase, which wSs but Few rods above the
dam, the boa: IN which Proctor AMI Clark were
riding Lost one Of its oarr, leaving them st the
mercy Of the current with but one oar. Trying
TO reszin 1t they lo,t the other, sni were com
r'etcy dissbeI They called to Mr. Best for
he'r, s7i be rowei to them rs rspdy as posi-
lie, young Bancroft who wss in the boat vita
him olaspiBc hsndc with one Of those il the Dis
atel bost. in this condition Mr.. Beat enie.vor-
al to rsscae them from theis peril; but The cur
rent Was too rapid. End when too late to save
himself iet GO the other Jst,-bo,h boats going
over over the dam nearly together into the fsNr-
fui vortex below, where the waters lsShei them
selves upon the rocks with such force as to CON-
Tletely temolish one o. the boSts.
Mr. Proctor snd young Clark c,ung TO their
boat, and CAGE cut with It below the rocks and
swan TO The Esn in the rear OF the old cooper's
sn0p, on the Berlin SIDE Of the river, where they
were rescued with no other injury than the
we;tin- they received Just before going over
the dam, Freddy Bancroft tsys to Mr. Be.t-the
tEo being in the other hes, together " What
shall We 1o2' Mr.. Best replied " lou look
on; for youi self, and VIII for myself 1t issaii
ttEt Nr Beet vas c1oI swimmer and probably
knew The danger Of either trying 20 help the
oiher- when taeir boat shot cut beyond the
rocks teioV the dam, both we're ciingng 10 1t,
ani il appeared for time that both would be
navel, AMI when nearly opposite the gas house.
A.r. Best, being hen only about twenty leet FROM
thc shore let 20 the h-at and attempted 10 resch
board thrown 70 hin from those on tho.e, but
sank just as DE Wss ab5ut 20 grSsp itsui Inst wss
the lS,, taen Of him the rapid current rendering
it Impossible Tor any one 20 venture into the wSter
TO ropes were at hand. One report says thk,
jps; as Nj Best JET e. the boat, he SAL to Fred
Bancroft, " You cling 20 the boat. / sm hurt
and c-u ~ The fuiierness with which he
d!sE. fes-7i renders * more than probable that
he wss hurt. else be would have been Ste to
hsve swan 70 she shore. His body hal not been
recovered A. the tine the mail left. Young
Bancroft ouu- 20 the boat, until be WAS rescued
ty roper let down 90 him through the railroad
fridge below the depot, h.s strength being So
far exiauttel that be lsyecct trusr to h.saands
a'9ue, aai lie c-ung 20 the rope with bic teeth,
ami was drawn up into tie bridge having sls-
taincl i1ue injuries On enc Of his iips, and be-
come very much Frustrated by being 70 loag in
the water.
Tais suilan ies,i e NJ. Best has cast.
gloom cve- taeertre community and get, the
fast that three # the fuc were sEy5i, as j, were
from sRtesy grave, is rossou for rejoicing tLSt
the calamity is 20 wlrse than il .s.
Sir Best wsE sac junior Vtrtaor Of the finn of
Hinkley g Best, dry goods merchants il tais
village, sni Fll kn1Tn 90 the people Of Bar
iugton q former merchant AMI resilient oi
your chg. lie Wat young man in .he prime
Of active tutnets lle, about thirty years Of age,
loved AID respe5tel hy 81 who knew him; and 10
love HIN, u was only necessary 10 know him.
tie wac actively engaged il every benevolent and
chr.s-sn work, being member Of Christ Church
EpifcopaD in this p.sce, and Superintealen,o Of
,he sabbath School. 10 wss aso su Lctiye AMI
earnest uember Of tie Young Mems Christian
At'ociS.i1u, ami was deeply Interested IN the
Fl-cCss Gifts msu7 Vhiisnthrolic enterprise.
Without .cs.sn,Aton, as quietly went about bis
w3-.,aui Won 1'h.mscii hosts offreud' wherever
De weu- But sal A. is .he l1ss 90 the community,
T li can 10 no manner c1musrg with the loss o.
+ A-s family, consisting Of his vile, vino Is IN
i feeble health, and two small children. who are
/ illus suddenly deprived Of dearly beloved hus-
T tzul aaj .st-er