The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-26
DROWNED In
THEPAWTUXET
Sad Ending Of the Life of
Walter ]. Lord.
HIS BOAT WAS CAPSIZEl.
Struck and Stunned by II While
Assisting Miss Wischman.
HIS BOAT WAS CAPSIZEQ.
BRIGHT NEWSPAPER REPORTER.

Not only to the newspaper fraternity
of this city. but to a very large circle
OF friends and relatives. came a shock
yesterday afternoon, when it was learn
ed that Walter j. Lord. one of the
brightest and most promising members
of the reportorial staff OF the Provi-
dence Journal, had lost his life by
drowning in the Pawtuxet river. 1t was
sad news indeed to hear of the tragic
end of this young life. more particu-
larly as Mr.. Lord had left his studies
at Brown University In order to work
for the support of his aged parents.who
reside in Worcester Mass.
Mr.. Lord went to Pawtuxet yester-
day afternoon, in company with Miss
Florence Wischman, a resident of Phil
adelphia, who is visiting Miss Elizabeth
Peck OF this city. and Mr.. Lord, who
was an ardent admirer of the pictu-
rescue river, was very anxious TO show
Miss Wischman its many beauties. They
left Rhodes boat house shortly after 3
o'clock, in one OF the new light boats
that Mr.. Rhodes entrusts only TO COM
petent rowers, and IL was the same boat
that Mr.. Lord had used repeatedly.
When a short distance from the land
ing. Miss Wischman. who was steering
the boat, expressed her wish TO take
the oars, and they exchanged seats in
order TO permit her to do SO. 1t was
while making this change ,hat the
light boat was capsized and both the
young people were thrown into the
river. AS the boat went over Mr.. Lord
told Miss Wischman to grab hold of
him as soon as they struck the water
and as they came TO the surface ne
seized the girl with one arm and started
for the shore, and being a good swim
mer there seemed to be no danger tc
be apprehended.
But, as Mr.. Lord turned towards the
shore. the boat. that was bobbing UP
and down. struck him on the head, and
the blow was such that he almost lost
consciousness, and being unable to con-
tinue to swim, he released his hold and
sank. Miss Wischman finding herself
sinking. threw out her arms and man
aged TO seize a bush growing out from
the shore and then she screamed for
help, her screams being heard by Mrs
Morse. who lives near the boat house.
Two boys. Harold Kerr and William
Fry, jumped into boat and started for
the spot.
They arrived i'm time To save Miss
Wischman's life. as she was fast losing
her hold on the bush, but could find no
trace OF Lord. so they at once took Miss
Wischman ashore, where she was at
tended by -Dr--Goff. Later she was
taken to tine home of Miss Peck. No. As
Chaplin avenue, where she recovered
from everything except the terrible
shock TO her nervous system.
In the meantime search had been be-
gun for the body OF Mr.. Lord by Off,
GERS Allen and Kerr Fl. s. Biting and
Chief OF Police Bigbee. but II was 6
o'clock before IL was finally brought to
the surface by Mr.. Biting. The medi-
cal examiner was called and the body
was placed in charge OF an undertaker
In the meantime news Of the fatality
had been sent to Mr.. Lords relatives
In this city, his sister. Mrs Herbert j.
Briggs. and cousin, Mrs. Fred Smith.
who is at present residing at Fields
Point.
Mr.. Lord was born In Worcester,
Mass. and was 23 years OF age. He
was educated In the public schools OF
that city and graduated from the Wor-
cester high school at the head of hiS
class He entered Brown University in
the class of 1898. He had not finished
his course. when. over a year ago. he
left college i'm order that he might en-
gage in work upon the Journal that
would enable him TO support his aged
parents. His mother and father havs
continued to reside in Worcester and
recently ne had been planning to re-
move them TO this city in a home of his
own, and this was something that he
was very anxious TO do.
His was a kindly nature, staunch TO
his friends and possessed OF a stability
OF character rarely met with in sc
young man. In his chosen profession
he had distinguished himself by doing
conscientious work. and by his assocl-
ates was highly respected. His un-
timely death will be generally regretted
by all who had learned to esteem him
for his many manly qualities.
The funeral services over the remains
of Mr.. Lord viii take place at his par
ents' residence I'm Worcester at 2 O'Clock
Thursday afternoon. Prayer Will be
said Mt the undertaking rooms OF A.
Herbert Arnold, S3S Westminster street,
at 1880 o'clock tomorrow.