Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-08-19
FROM DAILY OF WEDNESDAY.

A SAD AFFAIR.-One Of the most nielan-
choly events it has been our province to
chronicle, recently TRANSFERRED in Southern
Oregon. Mr. Wheeler. who resides on the
North Umpqua, it appears had gone to Oak
land, q few miles distant to make some pur-
chases, and about the time his wife expected
his return she, with her children five little
boys), went down to the boat landing, there
to await his arrival. As was natural, the
children began playing, chasing each other
up and down the bank O: the stream, and
while thus engaged one of them, aged six
years, slipped into the water. The child
cry Of distress was answered by another
brother of 10, who spraug into the river with.
out q moments hesitation. He caught the
drowning child as it came to the surface Il
second time. and started for the shore At
this juncturc Mrs. Wheeler. who was wildly
excited, started to wade out into the stream
on shelving rock, and she two. slipped into
deep water and began to drown. The
brave and noble boy, who first went to the
rescue, now became hero. With a love in
his heart for his mother that knew no bounds,
he let go his brother and tried to save her
whom he loved best. But he was already
too much exhausted to be Of service, and
when she came up the third time he caught
her by the arm and both sank to rise no
more. The other boy went to the bottom
when first released, and of course was
drowned. While this terrible struggle for
life was going on in the water, two of the
children ran up and down the banks scream.
ing for help that never came; the. third pro
cured boat and tried t. help, but be failed
to do any good. All they could do was
done, and that was to wait until their father
returned ard between their sobbings tell him
the terrible news. Search for the bodies was
commenced as soon as possible, and by the
aid of graphing hooks they were found not
far from where they had fallen in.
COAST SuRvEY-The Oregonian gives the
following interesting particulars with re-
ference to operations of the coast survey.
The service on the Pacific comprises about
10 parties, whose labor extends all over the
whole surface of the country, from the Straits
of Fuca to Mexico, and eastward to the
neighborhood of Salt Lake, all under the su.
preinteEcy of Prof. Davidson. Over 200
men are employed, besides there are seven
steam and sail vessels and several mack
trains. On the northern coast there will he
this season primary triangulation of the
Straits of Fuca by Captain J. s. Lawson with
The brig r II. Fauntleroy; photography in
Puget Sound by Assistan, Gershon Bradford,
with the schooner Yukon and steam launch;
topography in Puget Sound, south Duwamish
Bay. by sub-Assistant E. Elicit with camp
outht and steam cutter, and topography and
photography of the Lower Columbia river,
by Assistant j. j. Gilbert, with barge Kim
chelow. The appropriation of the Governs
mentto carry on this is only $2OO. 600 this
year. The object is to obtain a Complete
knowledge. not only of the coast with its
harbofs. bays, reefs and shoals, but of the
surface of the country, alcng the coast back
and including all the high ranges of our
mountains and valleys, with their distances,
heights and depressions. The work will take
years to finish If carried out as proposed BY
Prof Davidson, but in the end will be un>
told advantage to the country. Its people and
their commerce. industry and pursuits.
The assessment roll of Whatcon county
this year foots up $50, 900, an increase of
~, 000 over that OF last year.