Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-04-29

DAD ACCIDENT Once mcf- we are
called upon to pen the last words of
tributary respect which man can pay to
his most worthy fellow man on earth, to
consign his mortal body to the deep
dark grave and bis spirit to God who
gave II. We are now called upon to
relate sad and heart-reDding accident
by drowning that happened to a young
man of Jrniata county, who was just
entering the full bloom of manhood.
The young man was Alfred Mitchell.
son Of William w. and Margaret A.
'litchell, who reside in Milford town
ship, one mile and 3 half from Pa,,er-
son. The particulars of the accident
are as follows: Alfred, tcing out Of
employment, left Patterson six weeks
ago for Driftwood, Cameron county, Pa,
where he obtained employment in the
carpester gang on the Philadelphia 4
Erie Railroad, and worked until Thurs
day morning, April 23rd, when he was
accidentally drowned. The ascid.n,
occurred near the Company's railroad
bridge, IL miles above Drift~ood Sta
tion. This bridge had been swept
away by the recent rise of the river.
The foreman of the carpenters with his
men had been erecting temporary tres
tie work to repair the bridge. On this
fatal Thursday the temporary work va.
likely to be washed away, and the fore
man, two carpenters and Alfred got
into boat and started to cross the
stream to fix it short distance above
the breast of the dam, and when out in
the middle of the river the boat began
to DIP water. Alfred asked the two
carpenters if they could swim. They
said "1es," and Immediately jumped
out and swan 10 the shore in safety.
The foreman and Alfred then tried
with the boat to make either the pier
or .sluce water, but finding it fruitless,
having only pole to steer with AL
fred asked the foreman if he could
swim. He answered " Yes, . little. +"
He then said, ':Alfred, you save the
boat" and he jumped out. Alfred
said, Sim all right, save yourself" "
These we're Alfred's last words. He
then tried with the boat to make either
the bridge pier or sluice water, but his
danger was nearer than he anticipated,
and he Was swept over the dam. The
boat upset aud he was thrown in the
reaction OF the water below the dam,
where he struggled manfully to save
himself, but in Faln; he was drowned.
The foreman succeeded in catching
on the breast of the dam, and held him
self there until assistance came from
the shore, when he was rescued in ar
almost lifeless condition, and remained
so for a considerable length of time.
As soon as the foreman was rescued
search was made for the body Of Alfred
commencing at 9 A. NJ. 1t was not
found, however, until, Friday after
noon, when the foreman was able to
tell where he last saw him. After this
information they hooked him up. His
father in the meantime was apprised of
the accident by telegram. He left this
place on Thursday night on Cincinnati
Express for Cameron, and arrived there
on Friday morning. He returned on
Saturday, on Way Passenger, with the
body, which was taken to his home.
HIS remains were conveyed to Union
Cemetery for burial on Sunday last,
followed by the relatives, friends and a
large concourse of citizens. The fu-
neral services we're conducted by the
Rev. ID. N. Blackwelder, of the Luth-
eran church.
Alfred Mitchell was born in Juniata
county, Sept. 81, 1855. and his age wa
90 years, mos. and . days. He wa:
loved by all who knew HIM He was
a kind loving brother and dutiful sor
"A perfect disciple of honesty and
bravery, ever seeing the danger oi
others but could not see his own. III,
leaves father, mother, brothers, sis
ters, and last, but not least, one wht
would soon have been as dear to hin
as all Others. But let them be guideC
by the poets words
s.He's beyond the sunset bright,
To fair regions on high;
No tieeting clouds its manslons build,
| No changeful rays of splendor gid
| The bliss that there entwines;
| Tnvisited by the shldes Of night,
The regions of supreme delight,
| Beyond the sunset bright
H.