Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-08-09
DEATH In THE DRIFT.
HEROIC DROWNING OF A CONVICT
WHO OWED FOR HIS GUARD.

The bodies Of William H. Camp and
Andy Ward have been recovered. They
drifted ashore on the west bank of the
Brazos river, at the Steiner farm, twelve
miles below Waco.
William Camp was a guard on the
county convict farm. Sam johnson, a
negro convict, suddenly made dash
from the cotton patch, where he, with
other convicts, was chopping cotton,
and, mining to the river, plunged in
and struck out for the other shore.
George Oglesby, one of the lessees, and
William Camp, one of the guards,
mounted and gave chase, taking the
river and swimming their horses in the
wake of the negro. Camp led and car
ried his six shooter in his hand, while the
lessee followed closely, both horses
swimming gracefully.
The river was up and the drift was
going down in large quantities. This
hotsam and jetsam of the rudy current
consists Of little Of everything floods
find upon invaded shores. There was
here fencepost with a bit of barbed
wire trailing, the wire dragging some
an old boat upturned and frequently
panel or two of fence, all moving like
platoon bristling with the barb wire in
vented TO turn cattle. Through this
labyrinth the swimming negro, with
wonderful dexterity, took his way. But
the horsemen, after reaching the chan
mel, found that they could not proceed,
and reluctantly turned back.
Oglesby's horse, punched by rails, tan
gled in the lighter drift and wounded
with wire, ceased swimming, turned
over and went floating on his side
Oglesby swan beside him, and holding
his name gently guided him toward the
shore, which he safely reached, utterly
exhausted. Camps horse ceased swim
ming and commenced churning with his
hind feet. "Let go his head, and when
he starts catch his TAIL" cried Oglesby
from the shore. Camp still held his re-
volver in his hand. His face was by this
time white with horror. The other con-
victs and guards now lined the shore.
Oglesby arose to his feet and shouted:
"Men, am hurt and strangled. l am
past swimming. Save Will Camp and
Will pay WHAT you CnarBe.
1t was an awful place to attempt
rescue. The drowning man still held
his pistol and struggled in the drift.
One hand was rigidly clasped on the
ivory handle and the other was lifted
up. Those on shore followed him along
as he slowly foated, and Andy Ward
was observed TO be stripping himself.
Lessee George Oglesby also began TO
pull off his boots. He found that his
ankle was sprained and he could not go
on with the task lac sat down in de-
spair.
'Save him, y,.ndy," 0glesby cried, and
Andy said, 81 will if can. Mr.. George"
By this time Camp was nearly under:
his face could be seen now and then, and
one hand still held up the pistol. The
other appeared again and again above
the eddies in mute appeal. Andy
plunged in and swan with powerful
strokes, but when he reached out to save
Camp the latter went down and arose no
more.
Andy dived at the point where CAM.
sank and came up again. His arm and
face were observed to be bleeding; he
had been touched by the drift. Come
backr' was shouted to him from the
shore. but the brave negro would not
hear it, He was bent on the work in
hand, and under he went again and
again. Presently he came up and gave
a wild cry. Then he sank again and
came up no more alive.
1t was nearly o'clock in the after
noon two days later when boy on the
bank saw viii Camps body moving in
the current. Two hundred yards behind
the dead guard foated Andy, whom he
had lately guarded The prisoner had
died to save the officer, and was still
floating after him, CHASTITY travesty of
a heroic attempt. Both were taken out
and placed side by side. At last the
guard had given mp his weapon, and the
poor convict Andy was forever free.
While the drowning scene was going
on beyond the river ON the other side
another incident occurred. A crowd
stood together watching the struggle
From that side rescue was impossible
The river was 200 yards wide and the
drift was thicker that way. Presently
ragged negro, dripping with water, ap-
peared and stood with the others. After
gazing awhile he plunged in and swan
back.
AS he regained his companions on the
Steiner shore, one Of the guards asked,
,"What did you come back for?'
ITO help" was the laconic reply.
This was Sam johnson, the fugitive,
whose escape had caused the death of
two men. Before Sam reached the
bank he had left half an hour before,
William Camp and Andy Wash had dis
appeared, and the dancing eddies and
floating drift were fifteen feet above
them.
"You came too late" the guard
added, and when the others started back
for the convict farm Sam johnson