Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-28
Scott Strickland Drowned at
HalIoweII, Saturday.
Narrow Escape Of Raymond Gatchell
Who Also Went Through.
Latter Saved by Prompt Work of
Jerry Leonard.

+ uiier anu chester SOOHlDS. SNSiile
Fuller broke through the ice a few
seconds after Strickland, but was
| caught and held by his brother, who
succeeded in pulling him out. Catch
ell in his attempt to skate ashore for
boards, broke through thin ice some
% feet from the scene of the first
break, and but for the timely assist
ance of Jerry Leonard with coil of
most serviceable clothesline, he too
would have been drowned.
This in brief is the story of a sad
drowning accident-an event which
shocked the entire city and cast n
shadow of gloom and sadness which
| time alone can dispel.
Scott Strickland, the drowned boy,
was the son of Charles E. Strickland,
baggagemaster at the Maine Central
depot. and was IS years of age.
1t apears that there We're the usual
number of skaters on the river, Satur-
day afternoon. Strickland, who was
an expert telegrapher for one of his
years, had been at his post of duty
with Miss O'Brien at the Western
Union office until after o'clock. when
as the opportunity arrived, he took
leave and Joined his friends on the ice.
The wind was blowing down river
during the afternoon, and some of the
boys had provided themselves with
sails, which which they tackled from
one side of the river to the other. The
party which included the boys previ-
ously mentioned, We're skating leisurely
and were certainly not conscious of
ho; nd
sure approach to the open channel
with its encircling border of weak thin
| ice.
The river is open at this point for
about 800 feet, north and south. Strick-
| land was in the lead of the party and
the ice broke beneath him when about
| six feet from the opening. The Fuller
| boy broke through within a few min
utes after Strickland but not so near
the open, so that With the assistance
of his brother with polo stick he was
pulled out. Strickland was free from
the ice in an instant, but made frantic
though futile attempts to grasp the
skate sail and stick which was held at
arms length by Gatchell, missing it
| by foot or more. An instant previ-
Gus to this Gatchell had shouted TO
| Coombs. in the rear to skate ashore for
| a pole. and as soon as he saw that
! Strickland was beyond the reach of
| the sail and was being borne down by
| the current and tide, he skated from
the edge. only TO break through about
40 feet west by north, where ice of
| only a nights freezing covered the
channel. The ice broke into bits
around him and it was with the great
est effort that by the exercise of ehis
| knowledge of swimming he kept nose
and mouth above water. From this
perilous position he saw Strickland
disappear from view. The current was
very swift and it was with great diff
| Guilty that the "treading" was con-
| tinued.
Directly opposite the scene of the
catastrophe. about 600 feet distant, is
| the home of Jerry Leonard. to whom
all credit for the saving of Gatchell is
due. Mr.. Leonard sat with his wife
| near window from which the river
| is seen. They saw the skaters APP
proach the open place. They'll be in
| there, I'm afraid" he remarked. The
words were scarcely uttered when the
alf-eXpected occurred. With great
haste but with presence of mind he
cut 100 feet or more of clothesline from
poles near the house, crossed the street.
found his way over a steep bank, and
safely across the uncertain footing of
the shore ice. He approached with
words of courage, and as Strickland
disappeared. saw that Gatchell, too,
was in danger of becoming exhausted
before he could reach the place. Hold
on. I'm coming he shouted. Within
a few seconds. possibly a minute,
| Catchell was holding fast to the line.
| and he was drawn out to firm ice.
The authorities and the boys father
| were notified of the drowning shortly af-
/ ter 8 O'Clock Mr.. Strickland was on duty
at the depot at the time and was nearly
Frustrated by the news Grapnels were
| secured by City Marshal Church, and in
company with Charles Thomas, John
| Griggs and the Messrs. Harvey, who pro-
! vded a large boat, the channel was drag
, ged until dark, although without success.
| Or Sunday. the services of Diver Jo-
, seph Nichols of Augusta were secured
! He came down in the forenoon, accom-
| panied by his assistants with full outfit
| of suit, pumps etc, and made his first
! trip down at l. O'Clock. He remained I'M
| der water five minutes, when he returned
| for more definite instructions. He then
| remained down 90 minutes. On returning
| this time he said that the current was
/ very swift and that he retained his bal
ance with difficulty. He secured the bot
: tom as far south as the house would per-
nit. and gave the encourag ing report that
while the channel sweTved to the west
! the current seemed to take an casterly-
| course, these facts leading him to be-
| licve that the body might be borne over
! and lodged on the flats. The location OF
| the pump and ladder was changed and
I after the dinner hour the effort to locate
: the body was continued until dark, al
| though without avail
| The operations Of the diver were watch
ed by a hundred or more people on the
ice during the forenoon, and by many
| more during the afternoon.
| The utmost sympathy is expressed for
the bereaved father and brother OF the
drowned boy.
| Scott, the 15-years-old son OF Charles F.
Strickland. was bright and exceedingly
promising lad. He was a student at the
II hnt,, -, IL