The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1904-08-19
MAN AND WOMAN DROWN
Cora Beekon and James RYAN Wen,
bathing In the Wenatchee River
and Both Drown

That which has been predicted a
hundred times In the last three months
happened last Wednesday evening
about four o'clock, when Cora Beckon,
Mrs. Huston. Bill Mackey and James
Ryan went bathing in the river near
the new bridge on the road to the mill.
1t did not happen in the way every
body expected. 1t was generally pre-
dicted that some of the many children
that go boating on the river would be
drowned, but instead, the first victims
of the water were grown man and
woman, in the prime of life.
The party were bathing, and Miss
Beckon asked Mackey who is a good
swimmer, to take her out in the deep
water, and he took her about half way
across the river and back, and then she
asked Ryan TO take her out, and as they
started Mackey told Ryan unless he
was good swimmer not to try it. He
said he was, and they started across the
river. They had not gone far, says
Mackey, when he saw the girl sink and
struggle with Ryan. Mackey called TO
Ryan to let go of the girl and he would
get her out. He says he was afraid 10
go to them while they were close to-
gether as they might both catch hold OF
him and he could do no good and might
himself be drowned. After he saw
Ryan go under the water he started for
q boat and at the same time gave the
alarm. In very few moments the
bank of the river was lined with people
Fred Huffman who was one of the first
on the scene in boat joined by Chas.
Potter and several others in boats, at
once began the search for the bodies.
The water being perfectly clear the
bodies were soon discovered in about
twelve feet of water. Mr.. Huffman, a
stone mason, by diving secured the
body of The woman and brought her to
the surface, and Charles Potter in the
same way secured the body OF Ryan.
Both bodies were at once taken out on
the bank and every effort made to re-
vive them. DIR. Mccoy was first on
hand and was soon followed by Doctors
Hoxsey and Shore. After laboring for
sometime, or long enough to be con-
WINGED that there was no hope of bring
ing either back to life, the doctors all
gave them up.
The bodies remained under water be-
tween ten and fifteen minutes.
Miss Beckon had been recently en-
ployed in the Tumwater Cafe as a wait
ress, where also Ryan had been employ
ed as night cook or helper, though
both had few days ago quit the res
taurant intending to leave town. Miss
Beckon was twenty or twenty-five years
old and came here from Spokane some
three weeks since. Little was known
OF her. To VIM. McGlothlin, proprie-
tor of the Cafe, she said her people
lived four miles from Hillyard, in Spo-
kane county.
No one seems to know much about
James Ryan, who is between % and 80
years old, of forid complexion. rather
slight build and of medium height. He
has been about town for the past month
and so far as we can learn was peace
able and well behaved.
Word was received Wednesday night
from the mother of Ryan to forward
the body to Anaconda, Montana.
Under instructions from relatives the
body of Cora Beckon will be sent to
Ledgerwood Park, suburb of Spo-
kane. Both bodies went east last
night.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Porter, a
dressmaker of Wenatchee came in on
the train to view the body of Ryan.
1t is said that Ryan was engaged to
be married to Mrs. Porter, and the
wedding was to have taken place in
about month.