The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-08-10
A Fatal Plunge.

AMONG the many stagnant ponds or
cesspools at present distinguishing
Kansas City none are larger or more
dangerous than the g Sheridan Pond"
between Wyandotte street and Broad
way. 1t is a pool of foul, stagnant wa
ter, almost in the heart of the city, fed
and kept alive by large spring and
the waste-water and filth from three
hotels and several saloons. 1t was in
this pool that bright youth-the pride
and hope OF his parents-met with
sudden death yesterday afternoon about
one O'Clock. A colored boy named
Gabriel Miller was driving an express
wagon to the pond, when he was hailed
on Fourth street by Abraham LETTERS,
white boy, and engaged to do some
hauling. Jelfers climbed into the
wagon and Miller drove the horse to
the pond for the purpose of giving the
horse water. The pond is a section of
a deep ravine once running from the
river near the ellis House to the Cath
Ole Church on Broadway, and is very
deep in the center but shallow near the
sides. Miller drove his horse boldly
into the water, when the horse sudden
ly stepped into the deepest hole in the
pond and disappeared, dragging the ex-
press wagon after him. The horse broke
from its harness and sank. The wagon
partially floated to the surface. In his
fright and excitement young Jef1ers at
tempted to jump from the wagon into
the water, but was restrained for time
by Miller. He finally succeeded in get
ting away from Miller and jumped into
the water and disappeared. He had
got into the deepest portion of the pond,
which is said to be about eighteen feet
deep. Unable to swim even the few
feet which would have given him foot
hold and life, the unfortunate youth
sank to the bottom and died.
In the mean time Miller had caught
hold of the wagon, and held on until a
rope was thrown to him by some one on
the bank, and was hauled to shore,
arlyparalyzed by fear and excitement.
A large crowd of excited people had
gathered upon the banks of the pond,
and various propositions were made to
recover the wagon and the body of the
drowned boy. After some delay two
men volunteered to swim out in the
water and dive for the body.
Two divers went down several times
to seek for the corpse, but returned to
the surface exhausted and unsuccess-
full. They reported that they could find
the body of the horse, but not that of
the boy. Suddenly there came SWIM
ming from behind the old stone founda-
ton at the west end of the pond a boy.
He seemed to float upon the water with
the ease of a waterfowl, and appeared
to be unconscious of the presence of the
hundreds of people upon the banks of
the pool of water. Having reached the
spot he considered to be over the body,
he threw his arms upward and sank
downward and disappeared under the
water. He dived feet downward, and
was gone so long that the spectators
began to be alarmed for his safety He
came up again, smiling and painting for
breath, and said: 81 found him and
caught him by the pantsm Then he
turned over on his back and floated like
cork until he had regained his breath.
In the meantime the two men had
dived again, but were unsuccessful in
their search. Down went the boy diver
again feet foremost, and after CROP
ing about the bottom of the filthy pond,
came up for breath, and shouted
g | found him again and had him by
his hair, but could not raise him. Golly,
how this water stinks?'
After another rest the boy diver went
down again for the third time, the peo-
pie waited anXiously for his reappear-
ance. At last he came to the surface,
and brought with him the body of Abra-
ham Jetfers, the drowned boy who was
as large as himself. AS he appeared
on the surface, grasping the corpse in
one hand and swimming with the other,
the people greeted the brave little fell
low with loud cheers. He managed to
land his ghastly trophy before assis-
ance could be given him.
The name of this brave young hero
was given to the reporter as Augustus
Elsenwine, but he, like most brave per-
sons, evaded as much as possible the
congratulations rendered him, and
slipped off and disappeared in the
crowd. There are few such instances
of juvenile bravery recorded of late
Kansas city Times.