The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-06-13
The Body Recovered.
Found Floating on the Surface
of the Water Below the
AQueduCt Mill.
"Due to Accident" Says the
Cor0ner's Pr0bers.

The dead body of Alfred Low,
whose sudden and unexplained disap-
pearance from home since the early
morn of Monday, June srd has been
the all absorbing topic of discussion
and for whose remains men had been
diligently searching was found floating
on the surface of the Fishingcreek,
short distance below the Aqueduct
Mill, Saturday, shortly before noon. 1t
was observed, recovered from the tur-
bulent stream and conveyed to the
shore by means of an oarless boat,
manned by two boys, Harry Nc
Kelvy son of Geo. A. McKelvy, and
Emmett Eyerly, son of w. l.. Eyerly.
The boys had been fishing nearby all
morning and were preparing to leave,
when one of them glanced up just as
the tumbling waters brought to view
the form Of human body. Without
the slightest fear, or hesitancy, they
guided the open vessel, as best they
could toward the object. 1t required
their united strength to master it, but
they finally succeeded In getting it into
the boat. AS stated above, the boat
was without oars, and the boys were
compelled to use their hands as the
guiding instruments. After placing
the body on the bank of the creek,
they fastened to make known their
find. Word was sent from the Aque-
duct Mill by telephone, and scarcely
half an hour had elapsed until several
hundred people had gathered at the
scene.
The body was considerably bloated
and bruised by reason Of contact with
4 sharp obstacles, but was easily recog-
nizable. The face, about the mouth
contained several cutaneous wounds,
but was otherwise only slightly disfg-
ured. As it was being lifted from the
ground to the wagon to allow more
complete examination, a large pocket
knife, which was the only article about
the person, fell from one of the trousers
pockets. AS is customary in such
cases, Justice of the Peace Mensch,
who was the nearest resident official
was summoned. He empanelled a
jury consisting of James Quick, {. b.
Ent, Charles Geese, Z. A. Mears, b.
w. Furman and George Beagle. The
body was viewed, but no verdict was
rendered, as it was impossible to arrive
at decision until fur :her investigation
had been made.
The remains were taken in charge
by undertaken H. w. Bittenbender,
and removed to H. G. Supplee's where
they were prepared for burial, and
subsequently removed to the Low
home.
The inquest was held at the Central
Hotel at seven o'clock Saturday even
ing. Coroner B. F. Sharpless of Cata-
wissa was present. The jury was the
same as in the afternoon. A visit to
the Low farm and an examination OF
the spot where the unfortunate man
is supposed to have met his death, by
two of the jurymen, B. w. Furman
and c. B. Ent, promised the inquest.
In company with Lows farm hand
William Jones the three walked
to the upper end of the farm. They
had ventured nearly 10 the edge OF the
bank when the earth suddenly gave
way beneath Jones, and he was almost
thrown into the creek. He saved
himself by grasping a small sapllng'
This satisfied the other two, that Low
had met his death in like manner,
and they returned to the hotel and
bore testimony to that effect.
There were three witnesses examln-
ed, namely Mrs. Selecta Low, wife OF
the deceased, Mrs. Ida Shaffer, a
neighbor and William Jones the hired
man. They were closely questioned
by the Coroner and all the facts
brought out.
After extended thought and mature
deliberation the following verdict was
rendered:
"The verdict of the inquisition is
that we, the undersigned jury appoint
ed to view the body and take testi-
mony as to how Alfred Low met his
death, find that his death was due to
accidental drowning in Fishing creek
near the Jrondale Cos dam at about
half past eight o'clock a. m. on the sd
day of Tune A. d., 1901" Signed, DIR,
B. F. Sharpless, Coroner; James Quick
foreman; f. A. Mears, c. b. Ent, b.
w. Furman, Chas. Geese, Geo. w.