St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-11-29
TERRIBLE DROWNING ACCIDENT.
John Belknap Carried Over the New
Dam and Drowned.

John Bel<nap Carried Over the New
Dam and Drowned.
This community was terribly shock
ed last evening to learn of the death
by drowning of John Belknap, a ma
tive of st. Johnsbury and we'll known
as one of the most skillful engineers
and machinists in this section. He
was carried over the new dam across
the Passumpsic river below this viii
lage few minutes before o'clock.
The dam was only just completed, the
gate having been shut for about an
hour, while the water was going over
the dam for the first time. The men
were trying to save a large stick of
timber about 25 feet long that was in
the river just above the dam, but were
hindered by ice that was attached to it.
Mr.. Belknap pushed out in boat
between the stick and the edge of the
dam to assist in the work, when the
current caught the timber, swung it
round against the boat and in less
time than it takes to tell it the boat
and Mr.. Belknap went over the dam
on to the rocks IL feet below, quickly
followed by the timber. He was car
ried number of rods by the current,
which, always strong at this point was
unusually so at this time because of
the swollen river, when he rose to the
surface and shouted for rope, but
was hardly seen before he disappeared
again. Every effort was made to reach
him but without avail. The accident
occurred and he disappeared for the
last time before any one hardly real
lied it's horrible significance. A. L.
Bragg, the contractor on the dam, says
he saw him rise and that he shot out of
the water as though he had been a
stick of timber and disappeared again
instantly. Mr.. Belknap had on pair
of heavy hip rubber boots and heavy
clothing. The water at the point
where he rose was quite deep and he
was so encumbered that he could do
little toward saving himself even if he
was not injured in going over the dam.
At the point where he was last seen
the river turns sharply to the south
and forms an eddy. 1t is thought that
the body was either pushed aside into
this eddy, or remained in the curl ent
and was carried down stream.
After the accident the men who
were there, reinforced by others from
the village organized searching par
ties and began the sad work of
seeking for the body. The night was
intensely dark, and the rain that pre-
vailed and the uncertainty as to the
whereat outs of the body made success
largely a matter of chance. Though
the search was faithfully continued it
was without success and this morning
at $50 the body had not been found.
Some of the circumstances connected
with the drowning of Mr.. Belknap
were peculiarly sad. The hour of the
accident marked the successful COM
pletion of an enterprise that had been
a pet scheme of his for many years
| Living near the river and having a
keen eye for such things he recognize
years ago that valuable water power
was not utilized at that point. Early
in the present year he bought the wa
ter privilege, and later, in company
with a number of others, organized the
Water Power company and began the
work of carrying out his long cherish
ed plans. The building of the dam
had been greatly hindered by constant
rains, and after many vexatiOus delays
the work, to which he had given his
personal and daily attention, was
brought to a successful finish, the pow
er had been proftably leased and the
satisfaction of it all had been his only
for an hour when he was called hence
John Belknap was born in st. Johns
bury in l84O, being 40 years old at hii
death. Though never identified will
the public life of the place he ha(
marked characteristics that gave him {
certain prominence. AS "a skilled me
chanic it is doubtful if his superior wa
to be found in the state. He coult
construct almost anything from a pen
knife to an engine, from bicycle to ;
rifle, and had in course of construc
tiOn at the time of his death a steam
boat, every part of which, from th'
hull to the engine, was to have been o
his own construction. Perhaps th'
invention; the first one that he eve
constructed was made for the Caledo
nian office. Since then he has mad
large numbers of them which are il
use in various parts of the country
Industrious and of correct habits h
had accumulated a competence. AS
citizen and in business affairs he wa
upright, straightforward and honest il
all his dealings. Though somewha
brusque in manner he was kind-heart
ed. In all matters concerning religion
he was a confirmed skeptic of tn
Robert Inge1soll type. His wife an
one son, Harry, aged about IL, surviv
him. The son was assisting his fathe
at the the time of the accident and wa
overwhelmed by it. Mr.. Belknap ais
has two brothers and sister living
Amos of this place and Frank and Mrs
, | alxn r>fS
LATER.-At the hour of going