The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-04-10
Tragedy at state Line.
From the Mexican Miner.

From the Mexican Miner.
On Friday morning last Henry Wag-
ner and James Doyle, the former em-
ployed i'm measuring lumber at Bulls
Mill and the latter engaged at the same
place i'm booming and asserting logs,
got into a dispute which ended in the
capsizing of one of the skiffs occupied
by Wagner and the drowning of the
latter. 1t appears that there were two
small boats about the mill, but OH Fri
day, the day of the casualty, the work
of Doyle required the use of both and
he was assured by one of the employees
that. he could have them. Wagner
was not aware of the privilege granted
Doyle aud at the beginning of the
days labor the former took one of the
boats and started up the river for some
purpose. Doyle returned from the
boom to the mill to get pike-lever
when he saw Wagner rowing up the
stream. Doyle demanded the boat
saying that he would need it for work
on the booms, but Wager paid no at
tention, doubtless supposing it was
simply an attempt of Doyle to deprive
him of its use to satisfy, if possible,
the ill-feeling which he was conscious
existed between them, for they had
not been on agreeable terms for some
time past. Wagner told Doyle in u
sneering way that he could have the
boat if he could get it. This aroused
the anger of Doyle and he jumped
into the boat he had in use and started
in pursuit of Wagner. The latter,
seeing the course of Doyle, immed-
lately stopped rowing, and when Doyle
came close enough to him with one of
the oars he splashed water on Wagner,
and Wagner in return unshipped one
of his oars and dashed water on Doyle.
The latter, when within proper dis
tance, jumped into the sl>iff occupied
by Wagner. By this time high words
were passing between the two men.
They raised their oars and each threat
ened to strike the other. A short
scuff1e followed, during which they
capsized the vessel, and Wagner either
fell or was thrown into the river.
Doyle swan to the left shore and
Wagner struggled about the water for
a short time endeavoring to reach the
boat. He failed in the attempt, how
ever, and disappeared and reappeared
several times. Doyle, after reaching
| the river bank, took off his boots and
plunged into the stream again and
brought out one of the boats. By this
time Doyle became alarmed, and, with
| several other persons who saw the
struggle, went to the rescue of the
drowning man. Doyle took pike
pole and attempted to help the man.
Realizing that probably life was gone,
in his excited state, Doyle exclaimed,
ooh, my God, what have 1 done?"
| Wagner's body was taken ashore and
efforts made to resuscitate him, while
man fastened to Eldred and sum-
moned DR.. Guthrie. However, Henry
| Wagner was beyond revival, and
nothing of course could he done even
when the physician did arrive.
The following DAY Coroner Blair was
notified of the matter, and proceeded
to State Line depot, where, after em-
paneling a jury, the testimony of
James Doyle, and six other witnesses
testimony was taken. After hearing
the evidence and some deliberation,
the jury found verdict to the effect
that James Doyle was the cause of
Henry Wagner's death. A warrant
was subsequently issued, and on Sun
day morning Doyle was arrested in
the neighborhood of Eldred and taken
to thecounty Jail at Smethport.