The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-08-01
TWO DROWNED.
Rev. W. Il. Leatherman and
Earl Needham Drowned
in the Miami.
Sad Termination Of a Happy
Outing Near DeGraff.

Monday evening Q party of eight
Sunday school boys, ranging from eight
to fourteen years OF age, left DeGraff
on . hay wagon for an outing on the
Miami. ome two miles west OF DeGraff
They were fitted out for camping, and
left town In high glee. Rev. w. H.
Leatherman, pastor of the NJ
church, Was in charge Of the boys He
always took great interest in the
young people of his church, and was en-
listed in all movements for their happi-
ness and welfare, and had made ar
r.ngements for q picnic OF his Sabbath
school at silver Lake on the 9Th OF
August
After spending happy night In
camp, IL was arranged that the boys
should 60 ID bathing at 10 o'clock in
the forepoou, and all prepared for the
occasion.
The river, owing to the recent heavy
rains. Was unusually full, and for this,
or some other reason, Earl Needham, a
twelve-year-old boy. son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. George Needham,. who live on the
Joshua Doan farm. south Of DeGraff.
got beyond his depth, and Mr.. Leath-
erman went to his rescue, and both
were drowned. Neither Of them were
good swimmers, and in trying to save
- !. h><,v tho xx.f1f.to- 0ayo m hfo life
"A young man, eighteen years OF age,
who worked on farm near. saw the
accident, and ran down and pushed
fence rail out to Mr.. Leatherman as he
was struggling In the water, but he
failed TO take hold OF it and sank TO
rise no more. The rest OF the boys,
terror-strickeu, ran to their homes and
gave the alarm. A boy named Kin
cade, who had driven down In q buggy,
drove rapidly back TO DeGraff, and u
large crowd hurried to the scene and
Immediately attempted to recover
the bodies Of the unfortunate man and
boy. Grappling hooks were used, the
river was dragged, and men dived in
different places, and at last one OF the
divers, Evan Green, found young Need
ham, within fifteen feet Of where he
had gone down, his body having lodged
against . snag under water as IL floated
down the stream. This was about an
hour after the drowning. Every effort
Was made to resuscitate him. but 1t was
too late, and all had to turn away in
despair after protracted effort.
Efforts were being made all this time
to and the body Of Mr.. Leatherman,
burit WAS fully two hours after the ac-
cident shen the body was found by two
men about two miles further down the
river, floating in half-sitting position.
The two bodies were taken to De-
Gran TO their grief-stricken homes, and
the village was filed with mourning
over the doubly sorrowful tragedy.
The boy was q bright, good boy, and
Mr.. Leatherman was . man OF high
standing In the church, and was be
loved wherever he was known.
He was formerly stationed at Lima,
and his death is deplored there, as well
as throughout the conference.
TIE Gazette OF Lima, speaks OF him In
terms Of very high commendation, and
speaks especially of his interest in the
young people OF his charge. On this
point 1t says:
REV. Leatherman never missed al
opportunity to 60 camping with thu
Lima Y. NJ. c. A. boys. and this yea
Was In attendance at their camp q
Tashm0o Park. He went directly hom'
from here, taking with him some o
the tents from the Tzshmoo Park fo
the use Of his boys at DeGraff, thu
IcAmpiug experience which Terminated
so sadly. his last visit in Lima vas OF
his return from Tashmoo Park"
II was this great interest in his younl
people that made him plan the outinI
1T DeGrai that resulted, alasl so dis
astrously. How little we know wha
our best laid plans will bring us.
DeGraff is stricken with sorrow
bowed In grief, for the good man VIII
Igave his life In vain to save one Of tn
boys he loved. leaves a widow and thre
children crushed by the terrible event
and he had none but friends in tn
community.
The funeral OF Mr.. Leatherman o.
curred yesterday ct 1880 q. m, and tn
remains were taken for burial to Va
Vert, where Mrs. Leatherman's reli
tfves reside. -
The funeral Of Earl Needham- o.
CURED in the afternoon at 3 o'clocl
Both funerals were largely attended.
II The sad event has castsa glool
wherever the news has gone ovs
the county. There is no heart but
touched by the sad occurrence.