Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-08-11
WALKED INTO WATER.
Wealthy Shoe Man Dies
In a Strange Manner.
THE REASON A MYSTERY.
A Possibility That His Brain Was Al.
fected by Heat.

LYNN, Mass, Aug. il.-William Gray
bwett Keene was drowned of Nahant
yesterday afternoon. The hody was re-
covered in O. or % minutes after entering
the water. Yesterday morning Mr. Keens
attended meeting ~ the directors of the
Central National bank, and left for Boston
at II a. m, leaving word that he would re-
turn early in the afternoon. What he did
IN Boston Is OF known. IL is supposed
that he left for Nshant by steamer at
about 3 O'Clock. He was seen upon the
estate ~ " nry Cabot Lodge at East
Point ~, tn h se Of Pulpit rock.
r.. II. H. II Zen Of Auburndale, who
saw the drowning, tells the following story
of IL: II was sitting on the rocks with my
wife AID I remarked that no one was In
sight. Presently Mr.. Keene. whom did
not then know bv name or person. came
down the diff and
Ciar,bered on o Rock
that jutted into the sea- He seemed to be
perfect master Of himself and exhibited
nothing unusual In his manner. looked
at him again after u little and saw him
bathe his forehead with the water.
"To my surprise / soon SAW him de-
liberately wade into the water with all his
clothes on. When he reached waist
depth he began to swim. His movements
were 80 collected that had not the slight
est suspicion OF his intention. lie even
turned over and swan on his back. /
didn't know but that he was a fancy
swimmer and chose to act as he did Soon
his head went under water and there II
AZ ha al
complisbed before ! suspected 1t. His
body did not entirely disappear, and the
swell threw it In where it was secured by
poles"
Two men at work near by rescued Mr.
Keene. but he was dead when removed
from the water The body was removed
to the steam boat wharf and taken to the
town hall Medical Examiner Pipkhsm
was called, an ordered the body removed
to the Lynn residence OF the deceased.
Deceased was 80 years OF age on June i2
last. His father for many years manu-
facturel Shoes and WAS most enterpris-
ing and IA; seeing man.
He Died Suddenly
in the ST. Nicholas hotel. New York, Jan.
81, 1874, at which time William G. s. aud
FIanS assumed control Of the business.
Is known throughout the world a. one Of
the most ex nsive manufacturers OF
ladies' shoes.
Under the direction of William and
Frank Keene daring the past 10 years the
house of Keene has done the greatest busi-
ness in its history. and with William as
the executive head. He had a tremendous
amount of lush and energy, and the man
ner In which he would take hold Of Il cal
enterprises was remarkable. No more en-
thusast.c man in what he undertook ever
lived in Lynn
Until recently Keene Brothers have
mainta ned shoe factories In Skowhegan,
Me-, North Berwick Me-, and Lynn.
Now, howevei, there is only one factory
operated by The firm, ard that is in Lynn.
In the Family Circle
Mr.. Keene was a kind and lovable man.
He took much interest in his home, hav-
ing one of the most beautiful residences in
the city, on Ocean street. He leaves a
widow aud four chiiaren. 1t was the an
nounced inteptio Of the deceased TO re-
tire from active business next year
Deceased was director In the Central
National bank. a member Of the executive
committee of the Boston Boot and Shoe
club, the Lynn Board of Trade and a
member of the Oxford club. He WAS one
of the founders of the Boston Boot and
shoe club.
Mr.. Keene appeared rational yesterday.
and his business affairs were In good con-
dition. by some 1t is thought that the
deceased might have been a victim Of the
inter heat It was habit of the de-
ceased TO take such trips as that OF yester-
day, being great lover Of nature.