The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-21

Little Earl Lufkin. 7-year-old son of
Mrs. Samuel Ii. Lufkin of 300 South
Third West street, was drowned in the
Jordan river shortly before noon yes
terday.
The lad left his home in the morning
with George Binder, a neighbours boy
OF about the same age, and both went
down to the river. After watching
some fishermen for a time the two lit
tie boys decided to go in swimming.
Neither of them knew how to swim
and they went up the river to a point
South streets. The Binder boy had
been in at that place before and
thought he knew the best place
The two entered the shallow water
around a bend, out of sight of anyone.
and padded about happily for time
Growing more venturesome, they began
TO wade out toward the middle of the
stream. Earl was in the lead and sud
denly he stepped off into the deep wa
ter and with a Shrek sank out of
sight
The Binder lad padded back to shore.
screaming for help and, budding on
his clothes, ran away towards his home
as fast as he could.
The river narrows just below where
silent and swift for some yards, when
1t widen out again. Just here there
Is deep hole and a dangerous eddy
James Cooper of 261 South Fourth West
street and his son, Thomas Cooper.
were fishing here and they heard the
boys shrieks and saw him carried. out
into the middle of the stream, shrieiling
loudly. The younger Cooper immedi-
ately ran to help him, and was throw
ing off his clothes for a plunge into
the river. when the drowning boy dis
appeared in the swift current and did
not rise again.
Then young Cooper ran into Fishers
brewery and telephOned to police head
quarters. Chief of Police Hilton, Ser
geant Burbidge. Deputy Sheriff McDuff
and Detective Sheets went down to the
river in the patrol wagon. They pro-
cured a quantity Of giant powder and
began to blast the river in an endeavor
to bring the boys body to the surface
Search For the Body.
The explosions of the giant powder
| brought great crowds TO the river side
Small boys came by the hundred and
they reaped a rich harvest of fish
| which the explosions brought to the
| surface by the scores. All the after
| noon the officers worked up and down
| the river exploding powder in every
bridge. The services of a couple Of
| expert divers, Alex Bauch and Billy
| Tillett, were secured and the river bot
! tom was explored carefully up and
| down its course. But the efforts of the
| officers We're futile for the boys body
could not be found.
Last evening a net was stretched
! across the river some distance below
the spot where little Earl Lufkin was
| drowned, in the hope that his body
| might lodge against ii during the
| night A band of young men. expert
divers and swimmers, went down to
the place about dark and made a thor
ough search of the rivers bottom, but
| their efforts were futile.
Mother Distracted.
Little Earl Lufkin was the Oldest son
| of Mrs. Lufkin. who is a seamstress.
| The boys father, Samuel II. Lufkin. is
| in Idaho. Mrs. LuflSin has one other
child. Sammy Lufkin, aged .. The
| mother spent some time on the rivers
bank, watching the searchers. She
was distracted with grief and grew so
| hysterical that sympathizing friends
| took her to her home later in the day
| in a carriage. She stated that she
| never had her boys picture taken and