Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-07-02
FIR. Jones was a member of WEBB
ster Lodge No. so, A. o. II. w.
The Lodge attends the Fu-
neral at Butler.

grounds at Big Stone. There We're on
the grounds last Friday about eighteen
people from that section, and they were
Joined about two o'clock Saturday a. m.
by Mr.. and Mrs. A. l.. Jones of Butler.
After partaking OF some lunch and ar
ranging tackle, etc, Mr.. Jones, accom-
panied by Rev. Williams OF Bristol and
George Sherwood of Pierpont, embarked
about four O'Clock in a small skiff for the
purpose OF catching some fish for break
fast. The boat which they had was
utterly inadequate for the purpose, being
a light canning skiff capable OF carrying
only N person in safety. With three III
it, it was sunk to within a few inches Of
the gunwale. They rowed up rs far Is
the island and did not start to return
until about six o'clock. When they had
covered about hall the distance between
the fishing grounds and their camp, the
wind ireshened aud the boat commenced
TO ship water. Mr.. Jones tried to bail
with his hat but the motion of bailing
only made matters worse and the boat
slowly sank. Mr.. Williams, who was
rowing, jumped and the boat turned
over. Sherwood retained hold OF the
stern, Jones oil the bow, and Williams
the centre of the boat, and after halloa-
IltS " iClH, w lllittiLlN NkAuCh# OuI "
shore, followed by Jones. A man in q
boat near by rowed towards them and
was within a few feet OF Mr.. Williams
when he sank. Mr.. Jones was following
but the man stopped to pick up Williams
but he did not rise again, SO he turned to
assist Jones, but he had also sank never
to reappear. He then took Sherwood,
who could not swim, from off the boat,
rowed ashore and gave the alarm. The
accident happened about forty rodsfrom
shore where the depth of water is about
twelve feet. Graphing at once COM
menced, but the work was greatly re-
tarded by the immense growth OF weeds
on the bottom.
All day Saturday steamers and row.
boats worked in the effort to recover the
bodies. Dynamite cartridges were ex-
ploded in the hope OF ~dislodging the
bodies. On Sunday "a contract was en-
tered into with Capt. Day, an eXperien-
ced waterman, by which he guaranteed
to recover the bodies, keeping the work
up night and day until found. On Mon
day about i O'Clock the body OF
Rev. Williams was brought to the sur
face, shipped to Bristol and received in
terment on Tuesday. Not until Tuesday
afternoon about four o'clock was Jones
body recovered. The coroner viewed the
bodies and Mr.. Jones remains were
shipped to his home at Butler where
funeral services were held Wednesday.
The drowning cast a gloom over the
exercises IN the camp grounds. Mrs.
Jones was completely Frustrated and Tor
a time serious results were feared, but
willing hands and tender hearts rendered
consolation to the stricken widow, a few
hours before a happy wife anticipating
stay of pleasure with her loved ones.
Memorial services were held Sunday eve
ming at the camp meeting.
Rev. Williams was pastor OF the Meth
odist Church at Bristol for the past two
years, wa born in England and had not
a relative in this.country. Funeral SER
vices took place mt Bristol Wednesday,
Pres. Elder Springer officiating.
Mr.. AL. Jones was thirty-fiy e years OF
age, was "a hardware merchant at But
Ter, well known and highly respected
throughout Day County, aud leaves q
wife and two children. He was a mem
Der OF Webster Lodge, 70. 80, A.O.U.W.,
consequently his widow will receive
80, 900 insurance. M. ". David Williams
and j. w. Arthur went down to Big
Stone Saturday night on behalf OF the
lodge to render any assistance n a
might be required.
The funeral held at Butler Wednesday
was one OF the largest gatherings OF "a
like nature ever held in the county and
showed the esteem in which the deceased
was held. About forty members OF Web
ster Lodge A. O. u. w. were in attend
ance. The services We're held in the
school-house which was utterly made
guate to hold the immense
present. The room was draped and
flowers were in abundance. The choi
sang several numbers, the principal ones
being Lead, kindly light and when
the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there"
Rev. Frank Baker conducted the services
aud spoke feelingly and e%loquently OF
Bro. Jones as q man, husbands and
n~eighbor, and %besought his hearers to be
ever ready, like the deceased, for the
hour i'm which the Son of Maj cometh.
Eight Workmen acted as pallbearers
and the procession to the cemetery was
about "a mile in length. At the grave,
the iHterment services were conducted
by the lodge, NJ. w. Williams and Z. Nj.
w. Peabody officiating, and with O final
Farewell" Bro. A. l.. Jones WAS laid to
rest.
Abraham l.. Jones was bonn in FIJI
more County, Mimi, in 1861, ana came
to South Dakota in 1888, locating near
Butler, afterwards residing in the village.
He was converted at the age OF 10 years
and joined the u. B. Church hut upon
coming to this state united with the M.
+. Church of which he has been a faithful
member. A loving husband and father,
IL true and tried friend, esteemed and re-
spected nelghbor, just aud upright cit;
zen and a dcvout'C Christian, loved by all
who came in contact with him, he has
been called to sit at the right hand OF
the Grand Master ia the realms OF glory.
He viii be greatly missed but the
ing friends have the comforting assur-
ance that with him 'sall is well" and that
he is "only gone before"