The Portland daily press., 1889-07-24
DROWNED WHILE RUNNING A CATARACT
The Perils OF Railroad Surveying in
Western WlIds.
President Frank m. Brown and TWO
Companions Lost.
Mr.. Brown Believed to Have Been
Native OF Maine.

DENVER, Col, July 23.-Some weeks ago
there appeared a brief announcement to the
effect that an exploring party had left here
with view Of exploring the Colorado river
and building railroad by that route to the
Pacific coast. The party was headed by
Frank NJ. Brown of this city. and was in
charge Of Robert B. Stanton as chief engin-
eer. The other members Of the party were
Messrs. Heslop. Marlborough and McDon-
aid. with two colored men. cooks. etc. Mon
day telegram was received in this city dat
ed Kanab, Utah, July %, 1899. announcing
the distressing intelligence that the party
had leone to grief in attempting to run cat
aract near Lees Ferry, Ariz., at the head of
Marble Canon, and about 125 miles from
Flagstaff, the nearest railroad station. Mr..
Frank M. Brown was drowned, as were also
two others Of the party, in subsequent ac-
cident. The telegram is as follows:
KANAB, Utah, July 22, 1889.
President Frank NJ. Brown was drowned in the
Colorado river In Marble Canon, July 10th, by
MS boat being capslzed while running rapid. He
was thrown into a whirlpool and was unable to
get OUT OF IT, while the other man In the boat was
thrown into the current land carried down about
800 feet and landed. All the other boats OF the
my boat reached the point where Mr' BroWn Sps Was
thrown one-hah minute after the accident hap
pened, and less than five seconds after he sank for
boats down, another boat was driven against
clif, and In pushing 1t OFF was capsiZed, and two
boaatmen. oai Peter r Marlborough and Henry g Rich,
reach them. 1t Is impossible to recover any Of
the bodies. ROBERT b. STANTON,
Chief Engineer
The last accounts received from the party
were most hopeful. and stated that they had
covered about 800 miles of the most danger
GUS part of the river, which is one series of
cataracts and rapids. After leaving Lees
Ferry some distance, a terrible cataract is
found, which Is spoken Of by Major Powell
In report in 1869, as being 16 feet high and
one Of the most terrible whirlpools he ever
saw. 1t is supposed that here is where the
unfortunate accident occurred in which Mr..
Brown lost his life.
Mr.. Brown was, as near as can be learned,
born IN Maine. In 1850. At an early age he
MS Doyhood days were passed. Soon after
attaining his majority, Mr.. Brown went to
Alaska, where he spent several years in the
employ Of large fur company. After COM
ing to Colorado, he first located in Leadville,
and was for some time manager of the Far
well group Of mines at Independence. He
has recently. lived in Denver, and was inter-
ested much in real estate. Mr.. Brown about
II years ago, married Miss Minnie. second
daughter of Judge and Mrs. Ward Of Dem
yer. His widow, and two children, boy of
10 and an infant son, are now travelling in
Germany with Mr.. and Mrs. w. 8. Ward and
brother-in-law. On the day Of his death
Mr.. Browns father-in-law, Judge Ward,
sailed from Europe, and is expected soon in
Denver. Mr.. Brown was president of the
Denver. Colorado Canon & Pacific railroad,
IN the interest of which he lost his life. Mr..
Browns past was one of worthy accomplish
ments and his future was full of promise