The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-03-18
FELL re ans pEAFn.
Roderick Mcneil Falls Frosn the MI
Creek Bridge and ts Dkowned.


Creek Bridge and is Of SOwned.
At about O'Clock vests FRIDAY after
noon Henry McNulty discovered the
body of a man laying In q afoout inches
of water, under Mill Creek, bridge at
point near the end of the walk which
extends across the brifige. Marshal
Lauer and Coroner Byotts were sum-
moned and when the remains were
taken from the water they were found
to be those of Rode5sieiz Mcneil we'll
known and highly respected citizen OF
The Dalles.
The remains we're taken 20 Crandell
& Burgett's undertaking parlors and a
thorough exami ihation failed to bring
to light any matks OF violence. Two
small bruises on his head, neither one
being serious ehough to cause death,
were the only injuries and it was evil
dent that they had been caused by a
fall from the, bridge. The remains
were laying, With the head up stream,
| in about eight inches of water, and it
was evident that he had fallen from
the bridge, most probably striking on
his back. Being stunned by the fall
he was unable to get out of the stream
which was quite deep at that place
| where he fell and he was drowned.
His body n lust have washed down a
distance of about 80 feet.
About $50 in money vas found in
his pockets and there was no reason
to believe that his death was anything
but purely an accident.
Mr.. Mcneil has worked as foreman
for Hugh Glenn for 18 years and was
an honest, upright and honorable man,
and although poor and haylng large
family Of his own, de was never known
to turn a deaf ear to an appeal for as
sistance in charitable cause, and was
never known to see a friend in need
without giving any assistance in his
power.
About year and one halt ago his
wife aied leaving family of ten child
rem only three of whom were old
enough to support themselves and the
excellent care that he has taken OF
his family since that time showed that
be was rot only good neighbor but a
kind and loving father. His family
consisted of four girls and six boys.
John aNeil the eldest aged % is in
the regular army having served in the
army in Cuba and is at present sta
toned I'M the east. Joseph Mcneil
aged 20 has fruit farm near Mosier,
while Walter aged Is is working in
Idaho while the other children who
are all under sixteen years live at the
home of tn e deceased in this city.
Mr. McNeil was about 30 years of age
and was born in Noya Scotia and has
lived in The Dalles for over 20 years.
He was member of the Catholic
church and his funeral will be held
from that church at 8 o'clock tomor.
row.
An inqueSt was held over the re-
mains today and several parties testi-
fed as to having seen the deceased at
various times Saturday night. Will
liam Tillett stated that he had seen
Mr.. Mcneil at about eight minutes 20
four yesterday morning, while Bert
Thurston was under the impression
that he met him yesterday at about
ii o'clock 1t appears that he intended
going to Mosier on the 5 o'clock train
and was going toward the Umatilla
House when Tillet saw him, and it is
likely that he walked out on the bridge
to pass the time until the train arrived
and in siome manner lost his balance
and fell 10 his death.
The deceased was memeber of the
Catholic Knights and carried $1,000 in
life insurance in that order.
The following is the verdict of the
coronets jury: /.
We the jury summoned by W. II.
Butts coroner of -Vasco county, Ore
gon to enquire into the death of the
body nbw before US, after careful ex-
animation of the body of the deceased
and after hearing the testimony of the
witnesses produced before US and after
due and careful consideration and
deliberation find as follows:
That ithe name of the deceased was
Roderi9k Mcneil whose age was about
80 yeare, and that his residence was in
The Dalles, Oregon and that he came
to his d oath on the 18th day of March.
1899 in The Dalles Oregon, by scci-
dentallyl falling off the railroad HI Ridge
Immediately west af Main street about
45 feet into Mill creek and drowning
in said creek about the hour of four
O'Clock a. m. of said day.
Dated at Dalles city, Oregon on the
18th dEy of March 1899.
M. T. NOLAN,
A. BETTINGEN,