The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1876-07-28
SAD CASE OF DROWNING.

From the Nicksburg Herald we CLEAN
the tollowin PARTICULARS of the drowning
of an estimable young man at Delta
who was very we'll known in this city:
The river opposite Delta was drag
ged yesterday for the body of the late
l.. NJ. Downing, torpedoes were OK
ploded, and every effort made to re-
cover the body, but without success.
Several persons, friends of the late MIR.
Downing, went over from this city to
assist in the search, and to render any
aid in their power. From those who
returned we learn the following fur
ther particulars of the unfortunate af-
fair: MIR. Downing, Mr.. Nick. Lewis,
and Mr.. Jas. Hudson We're swimming
in front of the walfboat, jumping into
the river from the upper end of the
wharfboad, and swimming down to the
lower end. Mr.. Hudson jumped in
first, and was followed by Mr.. Lewis,
MIR. Downing coming last. Hudson
being in the lead, playtuiiy and ban
tcringly splashed water in Mr.. Lewis
face, and Lewis was pursuing him
when he heard faint cry from Mr..
Downing, ooh, Nick!" He turned
Immediately around, for something in
the tone of Downing's voice seemed to
indicate that he was in distress. He
called to Mr.. Hudson and both turned
and swan back to their comarade as
quickly as possible, but he had sunk
once before they could reach him.
Downing laid one hand ON the shoulder
of each of them and they held him
above the water some time, when all
three sank down together. Major
Green, Superintendent of the Nicks-
er:l other persons were standing on the
shore and saw the struggling going on
i'll the river, but were almost powcrlCss
to render any immediate assistance. y
skitf was near by, but it was chained
and locked, and it was some little time
before the lock could be broken, and
even after that was accomplished the
boat became entangied in the chain
and delayed the aid for the drowning
| men some little time. The negro men
who We're sent out in the slliff finally
got out into the river, but meanwhile
| Mr.. Lewis and Mr.. Hudson, who were
still clinging to MIR. Downing, had
gone down Il second time, and when
the skiH reached them, Mr.. Lewis and
| Mr.. Hudson were rescued in an insen-
sible condition, but poor Len Downing
had passed beyond the pale of human
| endeaSOf. JtlS lflenuS Hau clunS tS
him to the very last, regardless of theii
own lives, and if the assistance sent out
to them in the boat had come Al mo
ment later, they would have shared Iii,
fate. Mr.. Hudson says he has an in
distinct recollection of feeling Down
ing's hand slip from his shoulder, thcr
all grew dark, and the next thing ht
knew he was lying on shore, being
totally unconscious of the time or man
ner of his rescue. From what we car
learn it seems that Mr.. Downing was
waS not taken with cramp, but hur,
himself jumping from tho whurl-boat
into the river, and the injury thus sus
tanned prevented him from being able
To swim.
The affair has cast such gloom ovcl
Delta as has never been known before
and in this city, where Mr.. Downing
was 80 well known and beloved, hi
unfortunate death has been the s0urct
of deep sorrow. The tug Biglcy, will
Maj. Green in charge, went down t.
Delta yesterday to drag for the body
and Il large cannon was sent over from
the city yesterday to br fired over til
river in the hope of recovering tn
body, but up to II late hour last nigh
all efforts had been unsuccessful.