Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1879-10-15

The following Is . condensed synopsis
Of the testimony taken at the Coroner's
inquest In the matter OF the drowning OF
James McMartin last Saturday evening
in Gold Hill. The circumstances At
tending the sad affair have been already
published, but by request, In order to
give q full understanding Of the matter,
We now publish the result OF the inquest:
A. MoMartin testified that he was the
father Of deceased. who was 10 years
old last April. and born in Gold Hill.
he had returned to his work after
dinner, and shortly afterward news was
brought to him that his SOC was drowned
In the dam below the Rhode Island mill.
he ran down there a. quickly Is he could
and found him lying on . plank. he
was satisfied he was then dead.
Tommy Woodlif. Q playmate Of de-
ceased. IN response 10 his invitation,
won't with him for . swim In the reser-
voir. Deceased got on top OF Q sub
merged fums aud tried 10 swim or push
himself along from post to post. 10
doing so his foot slipped and he sank.
Webster Roberts, another little boy. who
had his arm broken q short time ago
was standing on the bank, and called to
some men In front Of Q saloon. They
soon came running. and some OF them
got = crowbar and opened the gate 70 lot
out the water. Witness was Of the
opinion that II the men had been
prompt enough In trying they might
have saved deceased. he said: ~ saw
Jimmy when hs anne up the first time;
nothing struck him; he did not fall on
any timber"
Webster Roberts testified that dc.
ceased went In where the water Wal
deep, and hs cautioned him against II
as be could not swim. Deceased replied
that hs could swim from post TO post.
He was trying to swim from the middle
post to the next ono whom his foot
slipped. tried to get Q pole to assist
him, but when I saw him going down Q
second time I ran for help, q I only
had the use OF n OF my arms. The
men did not believe me at first. but ]
told them to hurry up and they all came
running. I think II any Of the men
were able to swim they might have saved
the boy. When nearly all the water
was out I could see him lying on the
bottom. A man named Boyle then
came along on his way to work, and %
soon as he found out what was she mat
ter he pulled of his clothes and went in
and brought the body out. After 1t was
laid on the bank q Mr.. Hewitt brought .
blanket and asked the %bystandsrs to
help rub the body, but all seemed to be
afraid for O few minutes. Soon after.
however. they got Q board. wrapped the
body In blankets. and took 1t to Q cabin
near by. think II tho b~ystanders had
given the proper aid Immediately the
life Of deceased could have been saved.
N. Rodriguss testified that he saw .
lot Of men running and ran with them.
He tried 10 see the boy, but could not.
as the water was very dirty. When the
water had lowered some. ! was about 10
jump In after the body. but saw another
man going for it. He took II out on Q
side where we could render no immedi-
ate assistance. Aitsrward the body was
held up by the legs In order to get the
water out, but there was none. They
rubbed the breast with their hands and
soon took the body into the house.
DR.. J. U. Hall found deceased In the
cabin lying on Q board, partially covered
with q blanket. A bandsge was tied
around the head and beneath the chin.
and the feet and legs were tied together.
He was quite dead. Made efforts to 70.
suscitate him, but failed entirely. From
the best information I could obtain, de-
ceased had been under the water fifteen
minutes. The water In the reservoir 10
fully eight feet deep, and being very
foul at the bottom from the settings.
made Il 30 much the worse. In my
opinion. sven II the boy had been taken
out In Eve minutes after he first sank hs
could not have b. en- resuscitsted, on 90.
count OF the quality Of the water and the
foul gssses in It.
Riley Lewis testified to opening the
water gates to draw of the reservoir.
4pou no Woub DoiOW w Sutcu wv SSeyb
as he thought II might pass out with
the rushing water. can swim, but do
not think I could have done anything II
I had gone into the reservoir. a. the
was very dirty and I could not see
the boy. I was not told where he was.
From the best Of my knowledge and
opinion the boy was under water 20
minutes. I think everything possible
was done to save his life.
The verdict OF the jury was as follows:
We find the deceased was named James
o native OF Gold Hill, Storey
State Of Nevada, aged about 10
years, and that be came to his death on
the 18th day OF October. 1873. by drown.
ing In q reservoir, said reservoir being
In the town Of Gold Hill. near
the Rhode Island mill, and belonging to
the Virginia & Gold Hill Water Com.
pany; aud We further find said Water
Company csnsurabls for not guarding
said reservoir In such Q manner as to
hinder boys from swimming in 1t. The
following are the names Of the Jurors:
A. NJ. Mcdonald, O. True, @. L. Brown,
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