The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-07-04
STORY OF THE DROWNING OF
CONDUCTOR SWEENEY.
DREW HIM UNDER
Lost His Life in Vain Effort to Sc.
cure Assistance for Men Who
Were Dying Of Exposure.

Sweeney of Kalispell, who was
drowned in the F1athead river, near
Essex, while he was endeavoring to
swim across the swollen stream and
rescue Ernest Larter, a civil engineer,
and Operator Horner, who, for SO
hours had been wandering in the
woods, without a stitch of clothing to
protect them from the elements.
The whole story, as told by the
Great Falls Tribune, is one of hard
ships and privation, which resulted in
one death and perhaps another will
follows.
Ernest Larter of Kalispell, Opera
tor Horner of Essex, and the forest
ranger stationed at that place, start
ed 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 removed their clothing.
Then they attempted to cross and all
went we'll until near the opposite
bank, when the raft struck a rock
and went to pieces, throwing the men
into the river. After a hard struggle
they succeeded in reaching the op-
posite shore, from where they started
in safety, but without a particle of
clothing.
"The forest ranger, after trying to
persuade the others to swim the river,
told them he would recross and get
their clothes and for them to follow
down the stream to the railroad
bridge eros the river at Java. At
ter making this arrangement he en-
tered the stream and after a desper-
ate struggle reached the other side,
and, securing the clothing of the 9TH
err 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 I'M
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 a large
searching party started out. The
next 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 a state of COM
plete 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 fall
en- during the darkness of the night.
A rain and sleet storm had ragged the
night before and they had been fore
ed to endure it without a stitch of
clothing to protect them.
From where they were found to
Essex station, by way of the railroad
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 being
so great, it was decided that one of
the rescuing party should swim the
river and when once. on the other
shore 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 he took his life in his hand
by SO doing, and after removing his
clothing and fastening a rope to his |
body, he struck out. All went well
until he was within a few feet Of the /
opposite bank, when he was sudden
ly sucked down head foremost; for a
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 about 500
yards down the stream, but could not
rescued. It is supposed that the
rope was chafed by rubbing on a rock
and was unable to bear the strain.
AFTER Sweeney's death, men were
sent around by the bridge, and Lar
ter and Horner made as comfortable
as possible. In the evening the lat
ter was taken to Essex, but Larter
was in too weak a condition to be
moved, and was obliged to remain
where he was found until the next
morning. While his condition is ex-
tremely serious, it is thought he Will
recover. Mr.. Larter is a we'll known
railroad man of Kalispell and has re-
there for a number of years.
He is married, but his wife is at pres
ent visiting in the east. He is a
brother of Engineer Robert Larter.