Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-06-27
THE FATAL BLUE HOLE SCORES
ANOTHER VICTIM.

Harry James, of the Twelfth Ward
Drowned and George stickler, of the
Seventh Ward, Nearly Drowned ON Sum
day Afternoon in the blue Hole
Above Moxham.
On Sunday about 3 o'clock young man
named Harry James was drowned in the
StonYcreek river at the place known as
the Blue Hole" above the johnson
Foundry, Moxham, short distance out.
side the city limits.
he and number of other young men
were bathing in the river. Being good
swimmer, he undertook to teach friend,
George Stickler, of the Seventh ward,
the art of swimming. They were some
distance from the bank of the stream,
when the latter apparently lost control of
himself. He struggled fiercely, but those
on shore thought James, who was a strong
man and good swimmer, would be able
to get him out. Seeing that the two men
were IN danger of drowning, some of the
bathers went to their aid with boat.
The struggling men had come up the
second time and were about disappear ing
again when one of the rescuers caught
Stickler by the hair, while another
grabbed hold of James foot. Stickler
was pulled out insensible, but James
kicked loose and was lost to view. His
body was not recovered until late in the
evening, when it was taken to the morgue
and prepared for burial.
1t was with great difficulty that Stick.
Ter was resuscitated, it being about twenty
minutes before he was able to speak.
James was young man about twenty
two years of age, and lived with his un-
Gle on Quarry street, Twelfth ward.
THE EXPERIENCE OF AN EYEWITNESS.
Mr.. Patrick Stanton, father of the
young man who was so badly stunned by
lightning on Sunday evening in Upper
Prospect, was interviewed by a represen-
tatlve of the DEMOCRAT yesterday, and
gave the following as his experience in
the matter
" | was in my house when the clap of
thunder came along, and thought it had
set my house on fire. said to my wife,
That has done damage somewhere con-
venlent to here She told me to come in
side. AT that moment woman carrying
child and crying murder at the
top of her voice. Four children
were following her. She followed to me
that Mulda Madden and my son Thomas
were killed, and with that | ran to the
place, when saw the house was on fire.
l called fire at the top of my voice. 1t
was so rough that nobody came. When
got to the house, | found the woman ly-
ing dead outside the door, took her
and put her IN reclining position against
the side of the house. BY that Anthony
Frankauser came to my assistance. He
took large basin to throw water on the
fire. | asked HIM to see if there were
more bodies there before he put water on
that. There was so much smoke and gas
that you couldn't sec anything. He called
to me that he thought there was body
lying inside the door. | dropped
the woman, who showed not the
least signs of life, and went for
the man. l caught him by the feet and
dragged HIM out on his back, when | saw
the man, l followed to Frankhouscr,
My God, this is my son Tom With
that told him to come to my assistance.
We put my son up by stone fence with
his face to the rain and wind. He was
there ten or fifteen minutes before could
discern any life in HIM. | noticed him
gasping for breath. When he was able
to breath little stronger and faster,
told FrankhAuser to put out the fire,
which he did. then told him to go to
my house and tell my son to get horse
and go for doctor in all haste. By that
time neighbor, Pat. Mahaney, came to
my aid. The fire caught again and
Mahaney threw out the clothing that was
on fire, and in throwing water on the bed
he heard the screams Of badly. By that
time two more men came and took the
baby away. Thomas was now consider
ably better, but he still acted queer. We
got door and carried him home, the rain
still falling. DR.. Porch soon arrived and
dressed my sons burns. This morning
he seems to be coming around pretty
we'll"