The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-08-05
A CORRECT STATEMENT
OF Facts Concerning the Drown
ing Of Earl Needham and
Rev. ". b. Leatherman.

The DeGraf Journals account OF the
sad drowning of Rev. Mr.. Leathermar
and the boy, Earl Needham, founded
upon the testimony before the Coroner,
gives the following reliable particulars
as to the various phases OF the depiora.
BILE accident:
"The second day. Tuesday, opened
with promise OF fine sport. The bath.
ing hour, 10 O'Clock. arrived. and Rev.
Leatherman and his little companions
donned bathing suits and wsded into
the water, the minister cautioning each
one not to 60 beyond his depth.
Only few minutes had passed, when
Ralph Needham, who had gone TO the
camp that morning In company with
Earl Kincade, as visitors, called to Rev.
Lestherman that his brother Earl, was
drowning. The boy in the water had
made no outcry, but his actions caused
his brother TO give the warning. The
minister, without . word, instantly
started to the lads assistance, and as
he took hold OF the struggling boy,
stepped of into deep water, At that
point about eight feet deep, gong un-
der, but holding Earl high over his
head and above the water.
Iu the meantime the brother on the
bank, assisted by Robert Nichols, pulled
q large limb from q tree and pushed
il out to the now drowning man and boy
who by this time had become separa.
ted, the boy half unconsciously strug-
Cling and floating down stream, while
Rev. Leatherman had come up and
gone down and from sight the last time
before the boy disappeared.
All the time Rev. Leatherman had
hold Of the boy, both seemed to be
drawn out into the river by Q strong
under-current, and getting beoynd the
reach OF those on shore.
1t is the opinion Of the boys trying tG
rescue, that those In the water did NO,
see the limb that had been thrust on,
to them, though 1t was quite close u
their hands at one time.
Now 1t was that those on the bank
realized the situation. Then Earl Kin
csde and Ralph Needham drove to towr
In all haste for assistance.
Ii Is not known TO the minute what
time the accident occurred, bat a
the start was made TO the water at II
O'Clock, 1t is reasonable 70 put the time
at lois. 1t was about 1925 when tn,
searchers began hunting for the bodies
Mr.. c. E. Green was the first one I,
to dive from boat to the bottom Of th'
river. He is an extra good swimmer
and seemed to be under water lonl
time. Says he crawled on the bottom
about ten feet, and was in the act O
rising when his hand struck the ankl,
of the boy, and by strong effort b.
was able to bring the body TO the sur
face with him. The water at tha
point was about eight feet deep, AM
Mr.. Green's effort was certainly
splendid one. Willing hands gave hin
Immediate assistance. The body wa
taken out on the bank and physician
went to work Immediately to get tn
water from the stomach and lung:
using all known means Of artifcis
respiration, and continued diligently q
their effort for thirty minutes TO restor
consciousness, but In vain. The bod
was brought from the water At los;
making 40 minutes it had been at th
bottom OF the river.
The body was then brought to th
home Of Fl. p. Runyon and prepare
for burial before moving it TO th
parents home ON the ]. S. Dosne farm
one mile southeast Of DeGraff.
In the meantime dilignst search wa
kept up for the body of Mr.. Leathel
man. Divers went down time sfte
time, but did not succeed.
Two of the workers were Messrs. 4
Walker and Harry Baughman, WI
allowed their boat to drift slowly dow
; stream, and when they were about p
yards below the point where the tv
. unfortunstss went down, they saw u
body Of Mr.. Leatherman floating ju
. beneath the surface OF the water, ar
} in q sitting position. Willing ham
r lifted the lifeless form from the waite
r and followed by the hundreds prese
i in solemn procession and with bow
heads and hushed voices, carried
:, to a conveyance and brought it to tow
o The body was found at 1i:55. just o.
e hour after the finding Of Earl Nee
e ham, and was in the water one hour a
forty minutes.