, 1884-05-25
BATTLING FOR LIFE.
A Father and His Three Children
Cast Adrift
In the Swift Currents of Grow
Creek.
One Little Girl Goes to a Watery
Grave.

Friday evening at about Q O'Clock n
little child of William Pittman named
Sarah, but familiarity called "Daughty,"
was drowned in Crow creek about eleven
miles above the city. The particulars of
the sad event as learned yesterday are as
follows: Mr.. Pittman was formerly a
conductor on The Union Pacific, but for
the past three years has made his home
at the ranch formerly known as the
Demmon ranch, He has two little boys
who attend SCHOOL, Cheyenne, and it has
been his practice ever since they com
menced going to school here to come
down every Friday afternoon and take
them home to spend the Sabbath. On
Friday he came down as usual after them
and brought along his little six-year-old
daughter who wanted to take Il ride and
also see the circus procession as it marched
along the streets. Toward evening, with
out having attended the circus, Mr..
Pittman started home with his three
children, but on account of the bad condi-
ton of the roads, occasioned by the
heavy rains that afternoon. his progress
| WAS utldA gu very EllHl NOI very lar
from the ranch where Mr.. Pittman resides
the road crosses Crow creek, which is very
high at present and its current is very
strong. In crossing the stream the current
proved too much for the team and the
wagon was partially turned over. Mr..
Pittman, the two boys and the little girl
were plunged into the scething
current, while the horses lost
their footing at the same time
and commenced to half float and half
swim down with the current Of the raging
stream. Mr.. Pittman did not lose his
presence of mind, however, and as soon
as he could get a footing he caught the
little boy, who was nearest to him. and
threw him to the shore. With a desper-
ate effort he then succeeded in reaching
the youngest boy, but it was too late to
throw this little fellow to the shore.
Trusting somewhat to the sagacity of the
boy he threw him toward the horses.
which were plunging around terribly and
all the time being dritted down the
stream. The little fellow fell directly be-
tween the two animals, which were still
attached to the vehicle, and catching hold
of the wagon tongue was carried in this
perilous situation more than one hundred
yards down the stream. At that point,
as good fortune would nave 1t, the horses
got a foothold and reached the shore with
the boy, who was unframed. But the
poor little girl, who had been the fathers
first thought when the wagon overturned
and whom he sought but could
not find nor see, had been
carried under by the raging waters and
never came, once even, in sight of the
father, although the work of saving the
two little boys did not take over a minute.
The liteless body was afterward found
nearly two hundred yards below where
the accident first happened. When found
the body was yet warm, but although
every effort was made to restore the child
to life it was all in vain. Yesterday,
when the news reached this city. Mr..
William Phillips, proprietor of the West
ern hotel, who is an old friend of Pitt
mans, sent out his team to the ranch and
on last evening brought Mr.. Pittman and
his family, together with the remains of
the drowned child, to Cheyenne.
All Of the personal effects in the wagon
at the time of the accident, including a
small satchel containing quite a sum of
money, were lost. The funeral will take
place this afternoon at > o'clock from the
Methodist church.