The record-union., 1891-07-27
Sad AFFLICTION.
Drowning of Edmund Benjamin Wood
son Yesterday,
He Went Into the River TO Battle, and
Sank Out of Sight-The Body
Not Recovered.

many who have lost their lives while
bathing in the river in the vicinity OF this
city. The sad intelligence was brought
to town last evening that Edmund B., the
youngest son of Joseph A. Woodson,
editorial writer on the RECoRD-UNIoN,
had lost his life while bathing in the vi
cinity of the Bryte ranch, about two miles
north of the city.
Deceased, in company with William
Smith and Robert Caldwell, left the
city at S o'clock on Saturday evening for
a run up to the mouth of the Feather
River in the new launch Miami, recently
constructed by himself and his brother
Frank, for their own and friends pleas
ure on the river. They took along
blankets, cooking utensils and eatableS,
with the intention of spending the night
on shore at Vernon and returning the
following day.
The young men left in high spirits, an
ticipating delightful outing. The father
OF deceased assisted in taking their things
to the boat, and saw the trio start off in
good shape. Several hours later he eX-
pressed to a friend regret that he did not
accompany them, as he knew they would
have delightful trip,
Alas! the fond father little dreamed
that twentyfour hours later the heart
crushing news would come to him that
his darling son lay at the bottom of the
river
Six o'clock in the evening was the hour
at which they expected to reach home,
and Mr.. WOodson was on his way to the
river i'll his buggy to meet his son and
assist him home with his luggage. He
had gone but block from his residence
when he met Willie Smith, one of his
sons companions, who broke the terrible
news to him that his boy had been
drowned when almost in sight of his
home. The party had stopped at the
point named for the purpose of bathing,
and young Woodson had hardly reached
deep water when he uttered cry and
disappeared before his companions could
reach him.
The father was almost distracted when
the terrible news was told him. His an
guish was intensified by the fact that
Mrs. Woodson was i'll i'll San Francisco
and their eldest son, Frank, was in the
mountains about Lake Tahoe with a
camping party.
When the heart-broken father shad re-
gained partial compOSure he set off for
the river, with the determination of Sc
curing the aid of some friends and
searching for the body of his lost son.
Willie Smith and friend of the unfortu-
nate youth accompanied him, but up to
midnight they had not returned. Itmust
have been terrible nights work for the
stricken father TO drag the treacherous
waters, in the hope of hnding the lifeless
body of his cherished son. The anguish
he must have endured none can realize
who have not themselves suffered similar
affections.
Telegrams were sent to friends to San
Francisco to break the news as gently as
possible to Mrs. WoodSon, and to have
40, lvrf
her condition viii permit. 1t will be a
terrible blow to her, for 'Bennie," as he
was iamiliarly called, was his mothers
especial tavorite, being the youngest of
her sons.
His brother was also telegraphed to by
way of Tahoe City in the hope that the
message may reach him at some point on
the lake.
The deceased was Is years of age and
one of the most upright young men in
this city. y life full of promise was just
opening before him. Young as he was,
he and his brother Frank had already
established themselves as proprietors of a
book and job printing Office, and were
building up 4 substantial business.
Honest, industrious, temperate and
withal ambitious and enterprising-they
had won the confidence of the cOmmu-
nifty, and success was assured.
The deceased was fond and affection
ate son. His nature was tender and SYM
pathetic, and no father and mother ever
felt prouder of their boy than did his pa
rents of him. He was universal favor
ite, and was the life and soul not only of
his home but of any gathering of which
ne might be member. His loss will be
severely felt by the young people through
out the community, as he was a general
1avorite.
Strange enough, the father of deceased
has for years by his pen warned the pub
lie against the dangers of bathing in the
treacherous waters of the river, and was
one of the first to urge the erection of
swimming baths, where young people
might bathe without risking their lives ;
and now, Just when such an institution
has been completed, his own son has been
added to the large number that have
fallen victims to the undertows and
quicksandS of the river.
LATER-THE BODY NOT FOUND.
AS the news of the sad affair spread
along the river front during the night,
men manned their boats and went to the
vicinity of the drowning with graphing
irons to assist in the search. Prominent
among those who thus volunteered We're
Messrs. Harrison, Wheeler, Geiser, Pat
terson, Mcdonald and Miller of the
launch Nereida, Mr.. Mofiit with his
launch. and many others, including
workmen from the Bryte Ranch.
Up to ? O'Clock this morning the men
Were working vigilantly in their efforts
to recover the body. There is a large hole
where the drowning occurred, and it was
believed the body had not left it.
The family will pay reward of fifty
dollars 10 any person recovering the bod y
in that vicinity, should last nights eff
forts prove unsuccessful.