Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-07-27
DEATH BY DROWNING.
Two Pullman Boys Meet Their Death in
the Waters of the St. Joe,
Frank Bramel and Alfred Mott Drowned
at GhatcoIet Last Sunday.

sadder when the summons comes sud
denly and without warning, and it was
Genuine shock to all the city last Mon
dov when message was received tell
inc of the drowning of Frank Bramel
and Alfred Mott in the st. Joe lake, near
Cbatcolet, Sunday evening.
The boys, in company with A. W.
Mott Alfred's father, and j. NJ Price,
had been at the lake a week, and their
vacation was nearly ended when the out
ing was SO suddenly and terribly ter
minated.
The party had made camp at the mouth
of the st. Joe river, near Chatcoiet sta
ton. and the horses had been turned
ont to Craze on an island in st. Joe lake.
The lake is merely a broadening OF the
river. and the island is long and narrow,
beinp four or five miles in length. Sum
day afternoon Frank and Alfred went up
the island to catch the horses, as it was
expected to start for home either that
night or the next morning. The Bar
bees. of this city, were also in camp on
the St. Joe, and at about $3.50 O'Clock
thev assisted the boys in catching the
horses. and this was the last time the
III fated lads were ever seen alive.
As evening came on and Frank and
Alfred did not return TO camp, Mr.. Mott
and Mr.. Price became uneasy, and the
latter, in company with other parties,
started to row up the island to see II
they could find the missing ones. When
they had reached point about tour
miles up, and near where the Barbees
had last seen The boys, the Mott horse,
which Alfred had been riding, was found
IN the channel drowned. The fear then
ms that the boys had attemptedito swim
the horses across the narrow channel
that separated the island from the main
land, and had been overcome in the deep
water, but still there was the hope that
they had reached the mainland beyond
with the other horse, and were then
making their way to camp through the
hills, With each Passing hour OF the
night the certainty OF the calamity forced
itself upon the well-nigh frantic father
and his friends, who could only wait in
camp for daylight to continue the search.
At the first break of day a large party
went to the place where the horse had
been found and at 6 clock all hope de-
parted as the body of Frank Bramel was
raised by Mr. Price from 10 feet OF water.
Half an hour later all that was mortal
OF Alfred Mott was found near the same
spot.
How the terrible affair happened rs
only matter OF con lecture, but the more
probable theory is that the boys, in
stead of going down the island to the
point where the crossing is generally
made, had thought they would ford the
marsh-like lake at the upper end OF the
island, and return to camp by a new
route on the mainland. At first lance
the lake was, apparently, fordable, but
in one place there Is a deep channel,
about 80 feet wide, the banks OF which
arc very dDIIpG anu hluuoh Ny
Doubtless when the horses had reached
this they had plunged off into the deep
water and the plunge had thrown the
boys from their backs. Unable to swim
to any degree, they had gone to the bot
tom. and their lives were cut short in
the bloom OF young manhood.
The fore feet of the Mott horse had be-
come entangled in the halter rope, hold
ing its head under water till it had
drowned, but its mate had returned to
the shore, and was found on the island
the next day.
The bodies of the unfortur ate boys
were brought home on the Union Pacific
train Monday evening, and were met at
the depot by large concourse OF mourn
ers, all the business houses having closed
their doors for the time out of respect
and sympathy for the bereaved families.
The funeral was held Tuesday morning
at ten o'clock, and was one of the most
largely attended ever held in the city.
The sermon was preached by Rev. A. j..
Cable, OF Moscow, who spoke words OF
coincidence, sympathy and hope to the
mourners, Revs. Marvin and Baird
spoke in eulogy Of Frank and Alfred.
The remains were buried in one grave in