The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-07-25
c1AUDIUs ]. wooDRINa.
The Particulars of His Sad Death by
Drowning.

1t is with the most painful sad
ness that we chronicle the death by
drowning of our much beloved
young friend Claudius j. Woodring,
on Thursday, July 18th, in Elk
river, a mile or two above Elkton.
He left Pulaski on Wednesday
night after supper, on foot we sup
pose, saying that he was going to
Elkmont Springs. The last that
was known of him before his dead
body was returned on Friday morn
ing he was trying at the livery sta
bles to get a horse to ride, but fail
ing in that, it is supposed he went
on foot, and that IN attempting to
cross Elk river on the mill dam, fell
in and drowned. His parents knew
nothing of his sad fate until his
loved and lifeless form was brought
TO the door. His devoted mother
had been waiting and watching for
him during the night without sleep,
and when at early dawn she heard
a rap a the door, she lovingly
called his name and told him that
night TO come home, and opened the
door upon his lifeless remains. The
anguish of that fond mothers heart
can only be imagined by a mother
whose heart is eDtwined about
bright, handsome, intelligent, but
sadly afflicted firstborn son. Every
body liked him and everybody sym
pathized with him in his late nerv-
Gus affection, through which his
mind was partially demented.
The following particulars have
been furnished us by friend, for
which we thank him:
On Thursday evening, the 18th
inst, fishing party was made up
at Elkton consisting of Rev. r. E.
Travis, Messrs. l.. 6. Baugh, Thos.
Daily and Geo. Sim. They arrived
at Elk river at Second Branch,
which Is between Scruggs' mill and
the Iron Bridge, being about one
half mile above the bridge. 1t was
now about 81 o'clock p. NJ, and one
of the party being left on the bank
the other three proceeded to put out
the lines. Mr.. Travis put out the
first and lacked only about one
fourth of being to the bluff side
with the other, when to their sad
surprise one of the party discovered
some twenty feet distant what was
decided by all to be the body of
man floating in ten feet water. The
line was hurriedly dispatched and
haste made to the floating object.
On arriving, it was found that the
left hand with nose and chin of the
dead man were projecting out of
the water. The head was thrown
far back with the right arm at right
angle and the lower limbs straight.
Being about rs or 100 yards above
the mouth of Second Branch and
near the bluff side, Mr.. Travis took
safe hold on his left arm and floated
him to the opposite bank, where
three of the party (the other having
been dispatched for coroner and
physicians to examine him) carried
him a few feet from the water. A.
w. Moore, Esq, came in due time
with jury of inquest, accompanied
by others. Drs. T. l.. Williams and
J. j. Upshaw examined the body
closely in the presence of the jury
and found no marks of violence.
The jury decided that he came to
his death by drowning. His body
was tenderly cared for, dressed, and
the body of Claudius j. Woodring
was brought to his parents in Pu
laski. 1t is now thought that he
had not been in the water more
than ten hours, as, report says, he
was seen passing through the toll
gate J miles north of Elkton the
morning of the same day he was
fOund dead.