The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-02

Joseph Rufonch.o. aged 10 years. who
has been q familiar figure on the streets
for several weeks as the advertising me-
dunn for a soup firm was drowned sasur-
day afternoon In the sink hole at the
southeast corner OF Jackson street and
Third avenue south.
The body was IN the water from 40 TO
s o'cscck after which .g was taken 10
Heorer's Turkish bathrooms where Dr.
Rogers worked several hours in an at
tempt 20 restore rfe.
A crowd Of more than 400 people gath-
body. and VIXEN the frantic father. IN his
efforts 10 rescue his son. fell into the VIA
ter. shout OF laughter wen, up, only 10
be drowned by cries OF shame, Shame!
Have you no respect for q fathers grief?"
The block bounded by Main street on
the north. jackson street on the south.
Second avenue south on the west, and
Third AVENUE south on the east, Is occu-
pied Only On the west half by buildings.
Owing 10 the grade in that part Of the city,
tie streets are far above the enclosed lots.
The result is that the east hair OF the
block % nothing more than a reservoir for
Is frosa taree 10 eigh, fest deep, back as
night, and filled with rubbish. logs and
fraiI RATS.
These RATS have been thrown together
by small boys. who make a practice of
playing on the pond. Sometimes thsy rig
up a sail and float around. Joseph Bu-
fonehio was one Of the boys who enjoyed
rafting. He was on the pond early yes
terday afternoon with some companions,
among them being Henry .PeItisr. They
had great sport and 4 appears that after
they went away Bufonchi0 returned
alone. He walked down the incline al he
back OF the brick buildings which face
Second avenue south 10 the edge OF tn.
pond. He pushed out the raft by means
OF q long pole. When he reached the
southeast corner Of the pond where the
water Is deep. Bufonchio stuck his pole
Down into the mud and gave good push.
The pose stuck. Butonchio gave II jerk
and as II was released from the mud sud-
denly the raft moved and Butonchio, los
Ing his balance fell backward into the
water.
He sank withaut making any cutlery
that was heard and nothing more was
seen OF him. The boys who had seen him
fall into the water yellsd fof help. Then
they tried 10 get a raft and go TO the res
cue. IT he meantime q crowd gathered
and several men armed with pike poles
went out on RATS and commenced search
ing for the body.
Among the searchers was Chicago Ed"
a pugliis.. who got his pole mixed up with
a snag and In attempting to raise what he
thought was the body, lost his footing and
took an involuntary dirty water bath.
The crowd enjoyed this immensely and
told Chicago he had better give 1t up.
He only laughed back and kept on probing
the mud for the body. Several other
Ian nal ff-rf ha m
attempted to ride a log. and when it took
a sudden roll he went into the water UP to
his neck. Meanwhile the crowd kept
growing larger. The ratings along Main
and jackson streets were thick with hui
mainly. The steep bank al the east side
OF the pond was thickly populated. Every
window n the big blocks for squares
around was crowded with heads watching
the procs edings.
Soon the santic father OF the boy, who
had been sent for arrived. He threw off
his hat, coat and vest and attempted to
reach one of the RATS by walking on
dr.ftwood. AT the frs; step he went into
the water I'D to hs waist and the crowd
commenced to yell and shout In sport
Mr. Bufonchio looked up at the sea OF
faces In wonder and grief with tears In
his eyes. and cred out:
1T IS my poor boy that has been
drowned. Have you no regard for my
gref?"
The crowd Immediately recognized the
mistake II had made, and silence swept
ever 2oI1 people when the shouts Of
"Shams. Shame, Respect 4 fathers feel
ings"' were heard.
Chester Edwards. Frisco and some
others got a boat and came out 10 hep
the saarchers. Men came with long poles
made out of gaspIpe. with big hooks at the
end, One OF these poles was In the hands
or c. Grindle, who made a raft of his OWE
and went to work n a quiet, methodical
manner. He poked around among the
dr.ftwood for some time and then sud
denly commenced 70 draw up the pole care
fully. Soon the head of the boy appeared
above the water, and as Mr.. Griad,e reach
ed down and pulled the body up on the
cred" II was placed in the boat and taken
70 tho f@ot of the incline. where the boys
hat lay. There the water was removed
from the lungs. after which. With the per-
mission Of Deputy Coroner c. b. YandeN.
the remains were taken 10 the Columbia
baths ard placed In room. the tempera-
ture OF which was no
Dr. Rogers, who has q theory that lie
car be restored even after body has been
In the water several hours worked until
3 O'clock before giving mp the task
short sims before the Pesf-Inte.l!rencsr
wrnt To PRESS yesterday morning some one
telephoned that the boy had been resusci-
tated. Investigation proved this report
utterly false.
Avn sENrsNTs.