Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-07-19
Drowned in the Fair Grounds Lake.

The lake at the Fair grounds is a great
bathing resort for boys and young men after
the hot days i'll the city, and sometimes
there are as many as a hundred in the water
OIL on the banks at time. On last We'd
nesday evening, however, there were only
few-and all small boys with one exception
when young Charlie Zirkle, a clerk in the
dry goods house of Mr.. S. d. Timberlake,
appeared on the banks of the lake and prepar-
ed himself for swim. He was ac-
companied by Steve Timberlake and anoth-
er boy. Mr.. Heisken Argenbright, who
was in the water at the time and an eye
witness of the sad end of young Zirkle, re-
lates the occurrence as follows:
"Charlie was standing ON the bank as I
came out and asked me how far it was to
deep water; told him it was between Is
and 20 feet. About that time the boys were
ready and went in. Steve Timberlake swan
across, and went part of the way with
him, but finding was getting chilly, turn
ed around, came back to the bank and COM
menced dressing. Young Zirkle and Thos.
Fauntleroy, who were in shallow water
then, started with the intention of SWIM
ming across, when about 80 yards from the
bank, z. turned around, threw up
his hands and sunk, splashing in
the water, making us believe that he was
PLAYING. We had no idea that he was
drowning, until he appeared the third time
on the surface, when some one on the bank
exclaimed, sMy God! the boy is drownlng!"
Tom Fauntleroy, who happened to be near
the boat, which is kept on the lake, jumped
in and went to the rescue, and stood near
the spot where thedrowning man had sunk.
He reappeared the fourth time and Tom
reached paddle to him, which he caught
hold of, but the boat kept turning around
and [ suppose Z. was too weak to hold 1T
long enough until the other boys could
reach him. He then disappeared for the
last time. Soon as l heard the exclama
ton she was drowning,'' jumped in and
started to his aid, but as 1 was partly
dressed my movements were not free, and
[ had to turn back. 1t was all [ could do
to reach land in safety. have this much to
say about Tom Fauntleroy-he did all in
his power to save young Zirkle and he is
the coolest and bravest boy ever knew
Such efforts on the part of one so young
deserve to have been rewarded by the res
cue of the doomed youth. I have been in
the lake many times myself, but [ will not
60 there as often hereafter, and l hope
others will be as CAREFUL
The news reached the city about s clock,
and from that time till nearly midnight,
when the body was recovered, groups of
citizens of all classes could be seen wend
ing their way to the spot where the sad
accident occurred, till the crowd numbered
at least 500 people.
The young men who volunteered to
our people for their endeavors and long work
on such cool night.
Chas. G. Zirkle was about 20 years old,
and the son of J. B. Zirkle, who owns a
farm three miles north of the city where
the remains were taken the same night.
He was a young man whose sterling quail
tiles won the affection Of those with whom
he came in contact, and he had before him
a long life Of usefulness, but with all that,
and better than that, he lived a Christian
life. We. in common with the whole COM
munity, deeply regret the loss of one so
Young, and sympathize with the distressed
family IN their sad affection.
The funeral of Young Zirkle took place
yesterday afternoon from St. James Lu-
theran church at o'clock. The services
were conducted by Rev. f. III. Shealy
pastor of Christ Lutheran church, and a
large number of friends were in attendance.
The pall-bearers were-Messrs. W. III. Shi-
rey, Jr., J. F. CARRIER, J. F. Taylor, Chas.
Tilman, Frank Simpson and Robt. Tilman.