Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-28
A TRAMP'S TERMINATION,
A Sunday Spree Results in 9
Drowning in Sylvan Water.
Four Men Get Away With a Keg of
Beer aad Two start In a Skif for
shore and One OF the Number Meets
Death by the Boat Overturniug--.
The CoFOncr's Inquest.

An unknown tramp was drowned il
Sylvan water opposite Sinnetts ice house
and about sixty fee; from the shore in ST,
TO eight feet of water at about IL 80
yesterday. The man had purchased ,
keg OF beer and in company with a mum,
Der OF new made acquaintance of hi.
same class. had been over to Sylvan Isl,
and disposipg of it. A borrowed fiat
boat had been used for transportation tc
the island, and after the beer had beer
drank, the man afterward drowned, il
company with Chss Miller, also tramp
started buck to the main land for another
Reg' the one since deceased agreeing tc
pay for il, and after the boat was under
way with Miller rowing, the unknown
tramp attempted to change places with
Miller and in doing so the boat was cap.
sized and both men thrown into the water
| William III. Bragdon, living in Sinnett's
addition, and harness maker on the isl.
and, pushed an ice slide out into the
river, swimming out with it, until Miller
was able 20 grasp il and he was rescued,
while the tramp was drowned before be
could be saved.
The body was soon after recovered and
Coroner Hawes having been notified pros
ceeded to hold an inquest, having sum-
moned jury composed of c. W. Halves,
(toremanl; w. III. Bragdon, John Null
queen, NJ II. Sexton, W. Fl. Eberle and
Geo. NJ. Babcock, proceeded to hold an
inquest
Dennis Donavan was the first witness
examined, and he testified that his age
Was II, shoemaker by trade, whose
home was at Appleton. Wis. He left that
place at Christmas time and had since
been tramp. He met the man after
ward drowned on the east side of the c.,
X. |. & P. roundhouse at about 10
O'Clock Yesterday morning Had never
seen him before. He asked witness
where The buns hung out?" to which
witness replied that he did not know.
The two got into conversation and
started for Mud island, and on the way
two other tramps were met, and the man
atterwaTd drO wned said he had money and
he proposed buying keg of beer. All
agreed, Of course. and having got it, q
skiff was borrowed and the four went
over to the island. where the contents of
the keg were disposed of. The stranger
then proposed buying another keg and in
company with Miller started for the main
shore. Donovan remained on the island
aud did not know of the fate of his new
acquaintance until he crossed over to the
main shore afterward.
Chas. Miller testified to being twenty
two years of age. from New Brighton,
Pa, a butcher by trade, and had not been
home for three years. He had worked
for Contractors c. K. Mccormick and A.
J. Whitney. He told of his first acquain-
lance with the proceeding. the witness,
AMI with the tramp drowned, yesterday
morning at about 10 O'Clock, of going to
Wagner brewery with the latter to
purchase the first keg of beer, of going
to the Island, etc, of the starting on the
trip for the second key. witness was
rowing when the unknown tramp thought
he could do better, and in attempting to
take the oars from witness the boat
capsized, and both men fell into the
water. Neither could swim and both
fiOundered about in the water. Witness
wss rescued through Mr. Bragdon pushing
the ice slide out to him. but his cOmpan-
ion, whom he did not know, but who had
told him he expected some companions
soon. as drowned.
VIM. II. BragdOn told of rescuing Nils
Ter, At about 11;30 his little boy told
him that a boat had been sunk in the riv.
er. He ran down to the shore ard saw
two men struggling in the water. Throw
| ing off his vest he pushed an ice slide
out. and seeing it would not reach fal
enough, he Jumped in and pushed it on,
further. swimming after it until Miller
caught hold of it and got on it and wit
ness then swan back dragging the slide
until VIM. Fl. Eberle came up with boat,
into which Miller got, while witness swan
ashore He did not see the drowned mar
afterward.
John Domaine testified to seeing thu
drowned tramp. who has sitting on 81
empty beer keg in the boat, stand up ant
attempt to change places with Miller, who
was rowing, and in so doing the boa
caps;zed. There was no quarrel between
the two men in the skiff.
This concluded the testimony and the
| jury returned a verdict that the deceased
was an unknown man who came to his
death by accidental drowning in Sylvan
water opposite, Sinnets ice houses,
caused by the upsetting of a fiat>bot-
toned scow. in which he and one Chas
Miller were occupants.
| The man was apparently about 2e
years Of age. He was light complexioned
The left arm appeared to be recently
broken, while on the right arm wert
the n arks in India ink of woman, full
size, and two busts-one of q sailor ant
one of woman inclosed in wreath.
The Long Rest.
Mrs. Sarah Cation, a we'll known an
esteemed lady of this city. died at / A