The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-26
ACCIDENT AT CLYDE.
The Death by Drowning Of John
Hughes.
AM A BRAVE .'AN,"
"Thank God for the Light" but ii Came
too Late to Save Him-Was Suicide il.

PHENIX, Dec. 26.-When Christmas day
dawned, there was no employee among
the hundreds at the B. B. & X. Knights
great mills more CHEEKY and happy than
John Hughes, weaver. Because he was at
peace with mankind, owed no man, and
had many frieuds.
He went about among his friends max
ing calls, stopping longest at the home of
b. f. Lawton, at lower Point village,
W here he had previously boarded. 1t be-
come evident TO his friends through the
day that Hughes had taken social glass
of liquor, but he was not anywhere near
intoXication. Three times he called at the
Lawton home, where he was TO have taken
his Christmas dinner bad not the illness
of some of its members prevented any hos
pitalities.
About $50 in the evening he came in,
opening the house door softly; all the
family had retired. A little daughter of
Mr.. Lawton was ill, and he went TO the
door of her sleeping room, inquired for
her health, and looking at her childish
face steadily for n minute, said softly,
good night child" and went out into the
darkness.
At 10 O'Clock, a half hour later, he was
seen in Lippitt walking slowly along the
street in an aimless way.
At 4 o'clock on Saturday morning Mrs.
John Thornton, who was i'll and whose
home is near Clyde bridge, heard loud
cries for help. She aroused her husband,
Thornton ran with all speed TO arouse
his brother, James Thornton, who, with
John Donnelly, Francis Murphy and
George Melany, rushed To the scene.
Ropes were obtained and lowered, and a
response came from the man below, his
voice being strong and courageous
Can you tie the rope on yourself y
al / a hray ms N nn nd | Nxi
try" came back the answer through the
gloom. Then a lantern was lowered, and
the man below cried out, Thank God
for the light"
One of the men tried to wade from tho
shore out TO him, but the strong current
man, Are you ready to be lifted outY
No answer came. They pulled the rope,
but il came up quickly and slack. For
the man below had been unable TO tie it
with his benumbed fingers; and had
slipped of the rock where he had been
sitting, and where the water was up to
his armpits and he had disappeared for
ever under the stream. Later, when day
light came, graphing irons were used
but at III o'clock the body had not been
found.
John Hughes was about 65 years Of age.
He was a member of Company |, Fourth
Rhode Island Regiment, and served three
years in service. lie was for many years
employed at the Hope mills and later at
the Delaine mill at Olneyville. At the
time he left Hope he took his earnings OF
years, 5000, and bought house at Olney-
vile. IL was burned, the insurance hav-
ing expired only one day previously. This
loss greatly discouraged him.
Hughes coat, hat and spectacles were
found on the river bank near the Clyde
store, and IL is supposed he took them of,
walked into the river, where the strong
current took him of his feet and he was
washed down until he struck against the
rock. where he was sitting when his cries
were heard. II is probable he had been i'm
the water some time, and he had thus
become too benumbed 10 assist the rescue
ing party i'm saving him. His children
have been sent for. Hughes was spoken
Of by the men who were his fellow work
men az being n man industrious and kind
when not under the influence Of drink.