The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1904-04-29

Harry Ludlow was drowned in Elk
creek, between the Glen Elk bridge and
the Cain street ford "Wednesday evening
between $50 and GOO o'clock, as was
also horse OF the team he was driv-
ing. and Jesse Carr, who was in the
wagon, had a thrilling and most mirae'.-
lous escape.
Ludlow was driver for the local
agency OF the Reymann. Brew ring Sena-i
many and. yFr. CARTS
lie close 81 the day the driver drove 70.
the agency in Glen Elk and the team ann
being muddy from head to foot he and
the manager took the wagon and horses
down TO the ford to wash them in the
creek. The heavy spring freshet had
caused the creek to be above the danger
line At the ford and the current was very
swift. Ludlow drove the team in a lit,
lie ways. when Carr remarked to nam
that that was far enough and # they
were not cleaned enough the job could
be finished at the stable but Ludlow re-
Piled that the horses we're muddy up to
their heads and he continued to drive
them into the creek. until they were IN
the middle of it.
suddenly they found themselves float
inc down che creek and all efforts OF
men and horses to resist the current and
get to shore were Of no avail. The
water continued to float them down
stream swiftly. The horses foundered
around but before they had gone halt
The way between the ford and the bridge
one horse was dead and was being car
ried along with the outfit: Tt was
wild ride and made more so by the fact
that the horses and wagon were ootn
under water hundred yards above the
bridge and the men we're off their feet.
AZ thn+ inneture Ludlow appears to
have either jumped from the wagon or
was foa,ted from it and when Carr
turned around inst before the wagon
reached the bridge the only thing he
saw Of Ludlow was his head above the
wafer. Then, Carr jumped from the
wagon toward the north bank and sank.
When he arose he struggled across the
current and around the wagon to the
other side. making his way slowly, but
finally getting within distance that per-
mitted him to grab some underbrush
and pull himself from the creek. He
turned to look for Ludlow nut the lat
ter had gone down for the last time
and law dead at the bottom of the creek
Carr Immediately followed the horse
and wagon down stream. They lodged
two hundred yards bclow the bridge on
The. Glen Elk side. The live horse was
cut hose from the wagon and gotten
ont. The other horse and the wagon
remained in the stream all night and
were taken out next morning, by
by means of pulqeys and ropes.
The alarm was given as they floated
down stream, and Policeman Fox and
Others we're on the scene but not in
time to render assistance TO Ludlow,
who. it is stated. cried TO man stand
ing on the bank TO throw him a board.
The drowned man was carried down
stream a short distance after he fell
or Jumped out of the wagon and at one
time wus slightly ahead of the wagon.
To the best of the recollection OF those
who saw him Last he was Just above an
old tree that had fallen into the river.
and the general opinion was that mis-
body lodged there.
mt is stated that Ludlow had on
heavy pair of gum boots and gum
overcoat and these doubtless impeded
him in his struggles to get ashore and
finally became so heavy as to pull him
beneath the water.
Carr also wore gum coat and gun,
boots but baffied the onward current
with moro strength and agility and
thus saved himself from watery
grave, too.
The news of the drowning spread like
wflay fire and within half an hour fully
fgs hundred people were on the bridge.
n ~ of men with poles began to
~, n 6r the body but without sue
F1., The crowd continued to increase
thc Excitement to become more
lltepi y until the bridge was literally
hIied with people and the banks lined
.IEyfth persons trying 10 locate the body.
There were neither boats nor sISiHs
on the creek except one small fiat boat
out Of repair and unserrieea6le
+ The search continued until nearly