Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-02-10
AsAD DROWNING.
A Sunday Fatslity-E. II. Bellinger is
Drowned in North Mill Creek
His Son Narrowly Escapes.


happened yesterday evening abou
I:35 o'clock, Mr.. f. II. Bellinger
: and his son Clyde being the victims
OF the sad occurrence, Mr. Bellin-
ger losing his life and the bov mar.
rowly escaping the same sad fate o.
his father.
The scene Of this terrible affail
was at the ford, on the east side of
the Liberty street bridge acros:
North Mill creek.
II seems that the day being a
pleasant one Mr.. Bellinger was
spending most of the day out doors.
In the morning he and his wife
drove out to view the handsome
new residence that they are having
constructed IN Capital Park, and
after noon Mr.. Bellinger accompa-
lied by his son Clyde, started for a
lrive over North Salem and down
toward Mission bottom. They cross
ed Mill creek at the Parrish bridge
md after pleasant drive started on
their return home, coming into the
city on Liberty street. Consider
lble mud had accumulated on the
buggy when the creek was reach
ID Mr.. Bellinger decided to drive
lcross the ford instead Of the bridge
80 as to wash the buggy. They were
Irving young horse, but as it had
jeen driven all day no fear was en-
tertained from it. They drove into
the water aud 1t proved to be very
swift. They had almost reached the
opposite landing, in fact, the horse
lad stepped out Of the water when
he suddenly made a mad plunge
and allowed the buggy to whirl in
the swift torrent Of rushing water.
The horse made another plunge, and
the buggy keeled over on its side,
throwing the boy out into the creek,
in second more the horse fell back
onto the buggy and Mr.. Belli niger
was seen to go on down the creek.
Several persons in the vicinity gave
the alarm and ia a very short space
Of time large number were on the
spot. The boy went down "A second
or two in advance of his father and
being able to swim succeeded in get
ting ashore about two hundred
yards from where he fell in. He
was assisted to dry ground by SOW
eral persons standing near While
he was standing in the water his
father swept by him and caught his
hand and held on to it "A second but
relaxed his hold and swept on down
the swift stream. Chas. Smith, G.
j. Cherrington, Louis StinsOn, j. NJ.
Payne and u man named Girls
wold were engaged In removing
some driftwoood that was in the
creek ard was having the effect
of changing the channel, aud heard
the screaming and We're on the look
out. They soon discovered Mr..
Bellinger coming down the creek.
When first seen he was swimming
along nicely, his head entirely above
the water, but as he came around the
bend in the creek just below the
bridge he seemed to strike some
thing and was swept in under the
bank in an eddy of whirling water.
He soon rose to the surface but made
no attempt to swim aud was imme-
diately swept on down the creek.
Louis Stinson ran up toward him
and, with n hook fastened onto
the end of II pole. attempted to
drag him out of the water. In this
he partially succeeded. He caught
him all right aud raised him some
six or eight inches above water, but
IA the current was 81 swift aud the
hook so dull, the paralyzed form was
again whirling around In the rag
ing whirlpool of water. lie soon
reached the spot where Messrs.
Payne, Smith and the other gentle
man were standing on the DRIFT,
aud bya deXtrous movement Chas,
smith succeeded In catching him by
the lapel of the coat rs he dashed
under the DRIFT, The men then sue /
cceded In pulling him out, aud at /
once began to apply all possible
means of restoration. The body /.
was perfectly lifeless when II was .
recovered and no sigus Of life .
were visible, yet strong men worked .
with will for over half an hour,
hoping that spark of life remained
aud that the poor man could bc
restored, but all efforts proved nuit
less. "A soon AS he was taken out
Of the water he was placed In such
a position that the water he had
swallowed would run out, aud then
was rolled on u barrel. DIR. Min
thorn was soon on the scene aud had
The body carried to the residence
Df Mr.. Cherrington near 10y,
where number of men assisted hy
willing women, worked hard under
a. 4