The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-06-27

Greater Love than this hath no.
man that he giveth his life for his
friend
Conductor Mike Sweeney of this
city was drowned in the Flathead
river near Essex yesterday afternoon,
in a futile effort to swim the stream
to aid Ernest Larter and Operator
Horner, who had been wandering for
SO hours in the woods without
stitch of clothing to protest them
from the elements.
The whole story is one of hard
ships and privation, which resulted
in one death and perhaps another.
Wednesday forenoon, Ernest Lar
ter of this city, Operator Horner of
Essex, and the forest ranger sta
toned at that place, started out on a
fishing trip, and made an attempt to
cross the river on a raft They built
a rude craft and before starting out re-
moved their clothing. Then the at
tempted to cross and all went we'll
until near the opposite bank, when
the raft struck a rock and went to
pieces, throwing it's men into the
river. After a hard struggle they
succeeded in reaching the opposite
shore, from where they started in
safety but without particle of cloth
ing.
The forest ranger, after trying to
persuade the others to swim the
river, told them that he would recross
and get their clothes and for them to
| follow down the stream to the rail
| road bridge across the river at Java
After making this arrangement he
entered the stream and after a des-
perate struggle reached the other
shore, and, securing the clothing of
the other men, he went to the bridge
and waited for them to join him.
AS hour after hour passed and they
did not come he finally became un-
easy and started out in search of
them, but could not find any traces
of them, and returning to Essex, he
notified the people there and large
searching party started out Yester-
day afternoon the men were found
lying unconscious on the ground,
bruised and bleeding. They had wan
dered through the woods all night
and all day and were in state of
complete exhaustion that in a few
hours more would have resulted in
death. Being entirely naked they
were scratched by limbs and bushes
and bruised by rocks where they had
fallen during the darkness of the
night A rain and sleet storm had
ragged the night before and they had
been forced to endure it without a
stitch of clothing to protect them.
From where they were found to
Essex station, by the way of the rail
road bridge at Java, was several
miles, and it consumed four hours to
make the trip This being the case
and the need of immediate relief be
ing so great. it was decided that one
of the rescuing party should swim
the river, and when once on the other
side it would be but a short distance
to Essex and much time would be
saved.
Conductor Mike Sweeney volun.
, teered to cross the river, we'll know
ing that by doing so he took his life
in his hand, and, after removing his
clothing and fastening a rope to his
body, he struck out. All went well
! untilshe was within a few feet of the
opposite bank, when he was suddenly
sucked down head foremost, for q
brief instant one foot was thrust high
: above the water and he disappeared.
The men on the other end of the
rope pulled on it, but it broke, and
brave Sweeney went to his death
His body was afterward seen abou
, 500 yards down the stream, but could
not be rescued. 1t is supposed thai
the rope was chaffed by rubbing on &
rock and was unable to bear the
strain. number of men from this
city went to the scene of the acciden
e this morning with graphing hooks
5 and will drag the river in hopes O.
l finding the body of the dead hero.
r After Sweeneys DEATH men were
sent around by the bridge, and Lar
ter and Horner made as comfortable
I as possible, In the evening the lat
: ter was taken to Essex. but LarteI
e was in too weak a condition to bt
4 moved and was obliged to remain
4 where he was found until this morn
e ing. While his condition is extremely
serious, it is thought he will recover
e He will probably be brought to Kalis
pell on No. tonight Mr.. Larter i.