Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-11
pRowHED AMID ICE.
In, cad Death OF William Thompson.
Who Was Drowned In Short Greek.

Ths cad Death OF William Thompsops
Who Was Drowned In Short Greek.
Intelligence reached this city yester-
day morning, OF a case Of drowning
which occurred on. Wednesday after
noon, under the following circum.
stances: About o'clock on Wednes-
day afternoon, two men, one white and
one colored, left this city to return to
their home in West Middletown, Pa.
They were returning by the G. c. & p,
or iopg run road. All went we'll until
they got to the ford at Deans shop,
where they found the creek
very high, and the ford
dangerous. Will North, Loman Dean
and others advised them not 10 attempt
to cross, and succeeded in persuading
the colored man to get on one OF the
horses. The white man was under the
influence of liquor and was reckless,
making the remark that "a spoonful OF
water would not hurt anybody"
Against the protest OF Mr.. North and
the others they started into the foaming
water, the white man on the sled and
the colored man on one OF the horses.
They had proceeded but a few stEps,
when the water struck the sled with
such force it was overturned, and
the white man was thrown
into the rushing torrent. He chung to a
board for short time, but his hold was
soon broken, and he was carried down
the stream and drowned.
The colored man jumped TO little
island OF ice and was saved. The horses
and sled were taken down the stream,
and one OF the horses were drowned,
but the other and the sled were caught
and saved.
Messrs. Will Mitchell and John
Jacobs were about mile below clear
ing some ice from the road, when they
looked at the creek and saw wagon
seat board and some other boards float
ing past. They thought it strange,
and wondered where they came from,
when they looked up the creek and saw
Mr.. Will North coming down the road
on full run, shouting, "There goes a
drowned man." pointing at something
floating in the creek. Messrs. Mitchell
and Jacob mounted their horses and
started down the road, which is close to
and runs parallel with the creek, look
ing for shallow place to wade in and
catch the body that was floating along.
Mr. Mitchell waded in and reached over
to seize the body, but whea his fingers
touched the coat it sank and struck the
forelegs of his horse and passed on down
the swift current. They made several ef.
forts to catch it below, but owing
TO the ice and the swift current il Vas
impossible TO succeed. They lost sight
OF it short distance above the bridge,
at the forks OF the creek. The north
fork OF the creek flows into the south
fork at this point, and below the bridge
was a small river.
So they gave up trying to catch the
body, and returned up the creek, seeing,
while going along, the drowned horse
floating by. Some distance above they
met the colored man coming down to
see if they had caught the body.
They learned from him that
they had been to this city
with a load OF shep pelts and had sold
out and the white man had the proceeds
OF the sale in his pocket - some $50 in
paper money and silver. The white
mans name was William Thompson,
and he leaves wife and five children in
very moderate circumstances. The col
ored mans name is VIM. Basher. Al.
ter they returned to Clinton, Mr.. q
Holmes came up on the hunt of justice
of the peace to hold an inquest, Mr..
Thomson's remains having caught on
the Usage hedge fence on Mr.. Waddle' 5
farm.