Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-04
BROWNS IN THELAKE
MIR. FLOYD FUaUA nEErs ms
DEATH AT THE nEsERvoH.
PLuHGES THROUGH THE THIN Icg.
several of His companions raIi In
After Him, hut They Are Rescued
Heroism Displayed Iy Young
skater.


William Floyd Fuqua, a resident OF
swansboro', and one Of the brightest
Young men OF that township. broke
through the ice at Reservoir lake last
night and was drowned.
The accident occurred shortly after
O'clock when nearly a hundred skaters
were gliding over the frozen surface OF
the lake. and in the efforts made to res
cue the unfortunate young man sese.al
OF his companions fell into the icy water.
though they were rescued without injury.
Young Fuqua was employed as fcre-
man of the stemmery at. the Whitlock
Branch OF the American Tobacco Com
pany. and about O'Clock last evening he
went to the lake to skate. He disported
himself on the ice for a couple Of hours.
and was playing tag with several young
men. 1t was known TO all OF them thas
the ice was thin in the centre OF the
lake over the spring which supplies the
water, and skaters were cautioned against
that portion of the lake.
ALL THREE WENT IN.
Messrs. Douglas Hopkins and Sidney
Brannon, who were playing with yaung
Fuqua, decided to make an effort to cross
the dangerous place, and succeeded, buc
Mr.. Fuqua was less fortunate. and the
thin ice gave way with him. precipltating
him in seven feet OF freezing water. HIS
companions seeing him disappear. turned
and skated back to the hole, and the leo
ON the sides orumbling beneath their feet,
they, too, were plunged into the water.
They were both good swimmers and
managed TO extricate themselves. but Mr.
Fuqua could not swim and struggled
vainly TO get out.
MR.. WALKERS HEROIsM.
He was fast drowning. and realizing
the danger to him, Mr. Grant Walker. a
young man who resides on west Main
street. made an heroic effort to rescue
him. Removing his coat and shoes. Mr..
Walker plunged into the water. and
grasping the drowning man. forced him
upon a plank which Mr.. Twohig Temple
had secured. and was holding. BY this
means the body was gotten out OF the
water, and young Walker scrambled
after IT,
Mr.. Fuqua was entirely unconscious
when gotten out on the ice. and was hur-
ried to the shore, where a ire was built
and efforts were made TO resuscitate h1n.
Drs. Ferguson and McGowan, who were
at the lake. worked or the young man.
and the ambulance was summoned. DIR.
Greer Baughman, who was In charge, also
used heroic treatment, but the young
man was past recovery. and breathed his
last while being rolled.
WAS THE WRONG CORONER.
Coroner Taylor was notified Of the ac-
cdent, but II was some time before he
could be reached. 1t was finally azcer-
tanned that DIR. Taylor did not have juris-
dictIon at the reservoir, and an effort was
made to reach County-Coroner Croxton.
This proving futile, those In charge OF the
body decided 70 remove IL to the be-
reaved home. in Swansboro'. and
notify the Coroner to-day. Undertaker
Morrissett tooR the body TO his rooms In
Manchester and prepared 1t for burial
The news of the terrible bereavement
which had befallen them wes commune
Gated to the, family Of the deceased by
Hessfs. W. r. Fleming and g. ". Eaton.
a committee from Liberty Council Junior
Order United American Mechanies, or
which Mr. Fuqua was member. and
proved a sad blow to them.
Deceased was only % yenrs OF age He
was a most estimable young man. and
was held in the highest esteem by his
many friends. He was son or hr.
Charles Fuqua, and Is survived by three
brothers-Ciilmer Charles. and Percy
Fuqua-and two sisters-Ansses Minnie
and Alma Fuqua. His mother died about
a year ago.
FELL IN THE LAKE BEFORE.
Mr.. Fuqua fell into the Reservoir lake
iust about twelve months ago. AT that
time he was learning TO ride a bicycle
and the wheel getting away from him,
ran into the water He escaped then
with only a slight ducking. Deceased had
been elected to membership In Opachista
Tribe OF Red Men, and was TO have ssen
initiated last night. Instead, however. he
went skating and death resulted. No ar
rangements have yet been made for the
funeral.
Several accidents occurred at the lake
last night, the Zoe breaking In numerous
places with skaters. but ali of those VINO
fell In, save Mr. Fuqua, were rescued.