The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-31
F0UNDIN THE RIVER
REPORT OF DROWNING BROUGHT
TO TIE POLICE STATION.

REPORT OF DROWNING BROUGHT
TO THE POLICE STATION.
In a Few Minutes the River Ranks Wer'
Lined With Citizens and Officers of thu
Law-Nothing But the Supposed Head
Of the Victim Was Visible and the Uni
versaI Verdict Was Given That the De-
ceased Was Young Man and Had
Doubtless Been Killed for His Money
Care Taken to Preserve Evidence.
s'There is a man drowned in Big river
was the starting announcement that
was brought to the police station by two
frightened boys
Judge McCanless was comparing his
size TO that Of toothpick and was Won
dering why God in his wisdom had
created a man Of his ability with such
huge feet and such small legs when the
startling announcement arrived and in
his furry he not only broke the fasten-
lpgs of his suspenders but his carriers
were snapped in Irvine and had not his
socks dropped he would have probably
been the first to the hooboo wagon, but
the accident prevented.
The wagon sped away to the scene Of
the disaster bearing the police in charge
Of Chief Burt and Harry Sutton, fol-
lowing the wagon were persons on bicy-
cles, in buggies, and on horseback, while
many followed the funeral train until
in the space OF ten minutes after the
column had arrived at the station the
banks of the stream s well as Maple
street bridge was lined with people,
Mayor Cox was there, the undertakers
were on hand and the professional jul
rors came near tramping one another to
death as they crowded around Coroner
Rose, who was determined to show his
authority.
Where is the body?" demanded the
coroner in sepulchre tones.
In the stream about fifty feet from the
bank could be seen the head just pro-
truding above the cruel waves The
water as it passed over the head OF the
supposed corpse the hair could be seen
to move. "Oh, horriblei" was the ex-
clamation of many. 1T must be a
young man." sad several voices. you
zee there are no gray hairs and the
hair is too short for that of a woman"
ut surely is a case Of murder" said
that Sagacious detective as he switched
q huge chew of tobacco to the other
ride of his mouth, Bedford Wood. Much
iepedns upon US being very careful to
examine the body that we may secure a
clue to the horrible deed" said Harry
Sutton.
81 suppose that am the man who
should first touch the body, or at least
be there when 1t is lifted from the river
TO see that nothing Is lost that may
lead to the unraveling of this horrible
mystery. To think that a young man
pad been fouly dealt with, probably for
mis- money, is terrible. i hope, gentle
men, that the greatest care be taken.
Let US remember that whatever the
young mans faults may have been he
was probably some poor mothers dar-
ling" said Coroner Rose, as he brush
ed a tear from his eye
It was finally arranged that four
nen should wade out in the stream
Rose had tinge Of rheumatism Chief |
Burt kindly offered to take his place
and would see that none of the effects |
Of the deceased should b lost.
AS the four men and the chief of DO
lice entered the stream every hat was
removed. 1t was a solemn sight and
the touching words Of the coroner as he
referred to the mother of the deceased
had touched a tender cord in each heart. |
Fire Chief Walden came near break |
Ing up the solemnity of the occasion by |
giving huge jump as he declared he |
had pressed his bare foot on a swapping |
turtle, but a last the body was reached |
and then there was pause In the
water they found a huge cat which
some cruel person had drowned by tying
a string to its neck. The body had
filled with gas and attempted to rise to
the surface but the string held it down
and only the bow of its back and few
hairs of the back We're visible
Hats were replaced and in a few min
ntes the banks Of the stream were with
put occupants. Every mothers son of
the vast crowd declare now they were
not there, but the above is given as a
true account by one who was present.