The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-06-11

each other. At this bridge there were
several men fshed out and left fol
dead who Afterwards recovered and
finally reached Brighton.
McKay's bridge was the scene of the
greatest trouble. Just above there are a
number of . partly submerged trees
sticking above the water and the eur
rent is terribly swift and strong. 1t
was here that poor old Charles Dou-
plessis, known only to his companions
as .'Frenchy.'' was drowned. The man
came to Denver from Salt Lake city
and was 50 years old, carpenter by
occupation. Eye witnesses say that for
at least fifteen minutes he struggled
with the water and quicksands and was
finally sucked under. Hermann Ernst
jumped in after the old man and finally
grabbed his clothing, but was himself
caught in the quicksands and had to be
helped out almost exhausted.
John P. McQuowns member of COM
pany 3, of Utah, also disappeared here
and his body was not recovered. His
partner, Foster, saw him sink and is
positive he never rose again. His bun
| die of clothes was saved and among his
effects were papers showing his mem
bership in the Odd Fellows and Masonic
orders, besides a letter of recommends
| ton from w. P. Taylor, cashier of the
Mo-, dated a year ago.
1t was reported to the town authori-
ties of Brighton that there were three
bodies on the bridge under a guard.
Judge Lee drove to the place and found
only one cadaver. During the day it
was claimed that the two bodies not ac-
counted for were found to have deputy
Sheriff badges and could not be found
shortly after the discovery was made.
TRIVIAL ACCIDENTS.
The boats came rushing along and
piled up at this bridge in rapid order.
One man, John Nicer, was thrown vio-
lently against the piers and had his
spine injured. He was later sent to
Denver to the county hospital. He was
pulled out by a man named Sullivan,
and was thought to be dead, but re-
v!ved and was sent to Brighton, suffer-
ing intense pain. William Wilson. of
San Francisco, had his knee cap injured
in a similar manner. He was taken to
Brighton and cared for by G. A R
men. Later in The day he was able to
get around slowly. S. H. Bell, of COM
pany c, cut his hand badly on wire
fence near this point earlier during the
a2y. Some of the men who were thrown
into the water at this point later in the
afternoon We're in the water unable to
get out until late yesterday morning,
when boats came along and picked
them up. But during the few hours i'm
mediately following their plunge into
the river several boats passed and the
occupants refused to lend them any as
sistance. Two Of these men tainted
when brought ashore Several men
were able to reach the trees and chung
to them, two of them all night. DR.
Purcell, whose boat was upset, was
taken from tree after few hours
perch. Some of the men claim that
when they were in the trees helpless
General Higgins boat came past When
appealed to for assistance the general
is said to have told them to call some
other boat DR.. Purcell lost his instru-
ments and medicines belonging to the
army when his boat capsized.
Eye witnesses say that there is the
body of one and probably two men
Wedged under the first boat in the jam
just above the bridge Efforts were
made TO get it out during the after
noon, but were fruitless. The current
was too strong TO approach the boats
Mcclure, one of the cooks, was repor-
ted drowned there, but turned up lat
eT. General Carter was also reported
missing, but he had not left Denver
Two ranchmen claimed that they had
NsNo SoAlCS OOL JASl DSlOW 1chaN ;
bridge and sent them to Denver by
wagon.
The body of Douplessis was taken to
a vacant room in Brighton and laid on
a rough board until morning and Cor
oner Marlin and Commissioner Twonl-
bly, were notified. Word came from
che county commissioner to bury THE
man if no inquest was necessary at the
ccunty's expense. Undertaken McKaon
then prepared a pine box lined with
white muslin, and after the usual Ire
limiraries placed the body of the I'M
fortunate man in it. Several members
OF TIE army secured the neighboring
fields for flowers, and prepared a bou-
quelt which they placed on their dead
comrades breast. The scene was an
affecting one. These great, rough, /
large-iheauted men, many with clothes
wet by the same accident THAI cost
the life, gathered quietly around the
plain box and gazed on the quiet, |
bearded face. When they who had
seen The struggles of the man for life
recalled the incident they suddenly
turned away and none asked questions /
SIMPLE FUNERAL RITES.
About 2:30 the men all gathered near
the place and Rev. l. B. Self performed /
the funeral rites. Then, with a last
look, the rough board was placed on I
N14S bOA, II4C Jdu S4ldhIIll5 the QeaQ
mans mead from side to side with /
diseinctless. Several screws
were turned in place and in the box ten !
derby carried to waiting conveyance. !
The 'wealers formed in line with their
flag draped and slowly followed the
body to the grave. Two hundred and
men started, and their ranks
were added 10 as they passed until it
was thought nearly 500 assembled at
the grave. The last words being said,
the men returned to camp, expecting TO
find more subjects for the same cere-
mony.
The 'wealers, when they arrived at
chose as their camping
g. round a pretty place near the Boul-
der valley bridge. Fires were built and
clothes dried as quickly as possible
While daylight lasted, those who were
not entirely exhausted, went up the
river and assisted in the work of res
cue. When darkness came the towns
people opened up all the vacant hou-
ses, Jail, barns and fair grounds to give
the men what protection they could
All night and all yesterday the men
came stra ggiing in. Many could find
no place to sleep, 50 they laid down on
the bare ground and got what rest