The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-07-04
The Water Works Dam on Flat
Greek the Scene Or
Drowning.
Thomas Fletcher and Arthur
koock Narrowly Escape
Losing Their Lives.
Heroic Conduct of John Neal
Cowardly Inaction Of
Several Men.

The reservoir dam at the wafer
works on Flat creek, three miles south
of Sedalia, was the scene OF the sad
dest and most thrilling occurrence yes
terday afternoon, known to the people
of this community for many season.
Elmer Fleming, son of James Flem'
ing, yardmaster of the NJ, X. Il T.
railroad, with headquarters at Parsons,
Kansas, but whose home in this city
is at 400 East Seventh street,
lost his life by drowning
Thomas Fletcher, son of DIR. T. j.
Fletcher, druggist. 41S Ohio street,
and Arthur KOock and John Menefee
narrowly escaped the same fate while
nobly trying to save their unfortunate
companion.
About three o'clock in the afternoon
six young men, ranging in age from
fifteen to II years, formed party to
go in swimming at Flat creek.
They were John Menefee,
Thomas Fletcher, Arthur Koock,
Robert Walker, Bouldin Bowers and
Elmer Fleming. They lett the corner
of Lamine and Second streets in Meme
fees surrey, to which was attached a
single horse, and drove direct to the
dam.
The afternoon was very beautiful.
The sky was blue and clear, the
breeze was gentle and re-
freshing, and the route lay along
lanes and pleasant country
roads. The half-dozen young men
we're as happy as could be. They
were all close friends, loved each
other, and the blood bounded freely in
their Youthful veins. Nothing but
pleasure was thought of. though I'M
seen to them the shadow of death was
lowering and hanging very near.
The scene Of the tragedy may be
briefly described as a large dam which
backs the water up and makes
it deep and wide. Immediately above
or west of this dam is miniature is
land, perhaps fifty feet long by ten
feet wide. AT the lower point of it
the bank shelves off abruptly into
deep hole, the current Is very strong,
especially when the creek is high, as
it now is from the recent rains, and
there is treacherous eddy.
Arriving at the scene, the boys un-
dressed on the main north bank. |
Koock and Fleming had gone across
to the little island, making their way
over to it where the stream was not
more than waist deep, for neither Of
them was able to swim. In less time
than it takes to relate it, a cry for |
help was heard from the two boys, and
their frightened companions on the
hank saw them struggling in
the strong current and treach-
erous eddy some twenty feet
east of the point of the island.
Tom Fletcher, who is an expert
swimmer and played a heroic part in
the affair, plunged in and swan with
might and main toward Fleming, who
was sinking and rising and who final
ly disappeared. Fletcher barely
touched him, but was so exhausted
that he, too, sank from sight.
Charlie NOonan and a man named
Goodnight FASTENED to his rescue, and
pulled him out to the bank, COM
pletely unconscious.
John Menefee, though badly ratified,
had presence of mind enough to get
strap from the surrey and hurry across
to save his friend ''Slivers" Koock.
He, also, who could not swim very
well, got caught in the current and
barely saved himself by catching hold
Of a vine. He and John Neal, in
fact, were the first to attempt the res
cue of Fleming, and if they had been
given the slightest assistance by any
Of the crowd of men and boys on the
bank, they would have succeeded.
Kcock had a pole in his
left hand and had grasped
Fleming by the hair with his right
hand, but no one on the bank took
hold of the outstretched pole, by
which both boys could have been
pulled in safely.
Fletcher lay on the bank, appar-
emily dead. He had sunk twice, hav-
ing been seized with cramp. Some
one rushed to the nearest telephone
and sent a message to his father that
he was drowned. The reception Of
such news by the parents can be but
slightly understood by anyone who
has never had such an experience.
Mr.. Fletcher and DIR. G. E. Fletcher
ut once secured a rig and rushed to the
scene with all the frantic speed that
their horses could exert. Tom had
been rolled and pumped and put
throuOh every sort of handling that