Arizona silver belt., 1890-06-07
DROWNED.
Miss Mary Frush and Sherif Ryan Lose Their Lives in
 Wheatfields Pond.

resulting in the deaths of Jerry Ryan Sheriff of Gila county, and Miss Mary E. Frush. Wheat6elds, with it's pleas. ant wooded grove and largo fish pond twelve miles north of Globe, has al, ways been popular resort for picnics and on Sunday large party of Globe people repaired there to spend the day. Boating was one of the amu.s- msnt. indulged ,n, but was consid- cred unsafe by some, owing to the in- stability of tho boat, and tho quantity of mes, which filled portion of the pond.
 Several of the party had been in tue boat during the morning and toward noon Miss Frush went out with A. B. Simmons for a row. After rowing about for some timo they reached a spot twenty or thirty feet from the western bank of the pond, near dead tree which stood in the water thlckly surrounded by mess. Several of the party on the eastern shore, forty or more feet from the boat, called re paatedly to Simmons to como in, to which for time. it is alleged, ho pad no heed. Finally he replied that he did not know whether he could get out or not, and it was seen that his oars were caught in the moss. Sim. mons, in attempting to sxtrlcats one of the ears threw too much weight on ono sids of tho boat and it capslzsd, leaving the occupants struggling in tho water. (Simmons' version is that Miss Frush leaned over the side of the boat and caused it to upset.) There are othor versions of how the accissnt happened, but the above appears to be the most credible.
 hli,s Frush, who was good swim mer, succeeded in catching hold of the boat near the stern; Summons appar- sntly, forgetful of everything but hi: own danger struggled frantically to got hold ot tue boat, on the upturued bottom, winch was slimy and his hands kept slipping of. Finally he succead- cd in getting one arm around the mar row bow, where he renamed until rescued. Meanwhile, Jerry Ryan and Willis Middleton, from the eastern bank, had plunged into tho water and reached the boat. Simmons motions in the water kept the boat turning around Whether from this cause or not, Miss Frush lost her hold. and was struggling to keep herself afoat when Ryan reached and grasped hsr. Both went down and whsn they rsappaared were apart aad, evidently, very much exhausted. Ryan tried to call out for assistance but could only make gur- ghng sound, and in fsw moments both ho and Miss Frash disappeared beneath the water,
 While this terrible scene was being enacted the people on the shore were fyantically cndeavorlng to find some means of succor for thelr drowlng com panion9, and seemingly wore power less to avert the calamity, although no one went into the water ts attempt their rescue.
 Willis Middleton, having struck his right arm (sore from a burn received at the smelter q few days presious) agaInst the boat, and seeing he could be of no service to Simmons, struck out for the nearest shore and reached it in an exhausted condition. A rope was procured and thrown to Sim mons and, with the boat, he was drawn to tho shore.
 The bodies of tho victims of the dis aster were recovered after having been in the water about half an hour and efforts were made to resusc,tats them, but of course that was hopeless. Con- siderable moss was found attached to both bodies, and their drswnlng is at- tributed by many to tki, cause. How ever, friends of MT. Ryan believe that this doe. not sufficiently a count for his drowning, and think he must have been taken with cramps.
 Following is the verdict Of the coro- nsr's jury, ir the case of Miss Frush (In regard to Sheriff Ryan, separate verdict simply rscites the manner of his death, and which it is not nsces- sary to append)
 TERRITORY or ARIZONA,
 TowN oF GLoBE, County of Gila.
 In the matter of the lnquisition upon the body of Mary Frush, deceased, be- fore Jsh Atkins, Coroner.
 We, the undersigned, the jurors sum. mSncd to appear before Job Atkins, the Coroner of the city of Globe and County of Gila, at Globe, on the first day of June 1890, to inquire tho cause, of the death of Mary Frush, found drowned in Pascoe's pond at Wheatfelds, Gila coun- ty Having been duly sworn, according to law, and Having made such inquisi- ton, after inspecting the body, and hear ing the testimony adduced, upon our oath, each and all do say, that we find the deceased was named Mary Frush, wns a native of Iowa, aged 15 years. That she came to her death on the first day of