Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-10
Particulars of Charlie Rogers
Sad Death Received From
California
END WAS MOST TRAGIC ONE
With Men Holding to Long Rope, and
With Life Preserver on, He Slips
From Ledge in Canyon and Goes to
His Death--ln Sucked Under a Rock
by the SwirIins Rapids.


city, who lost his life in the Feather
river, California, last Thursday, men
ton of which was made in these COL
umns, lies somewhere in the Bald Rock
canyon, near Oroville, Cal, into which
he fell after having slipped from a
ledge. The prospects are that the body
will never be recovered, as it was
caught under projecting rock, at the
foot of the canyon, from which the men
in charge OF the life rope could not
move it. Copies of San Francisco
papers, containing the particulars of
Mr.. Rogers death, were received in the
city today, also a personal letter from
Mr.. julius Nillgrod OF San Francis
CO. to his father. Mr.. E. Wlligrod
Mr.. Rogers, according to Mr.. Wilt
grod's letter, is not the first engi-
neer to have lost his life in at
tempting n survey of the Bald Rock
canyon. Seven others are known to
have been killed in the perilous task.
Mr.. Rogers was fearless and did not
hesitate at all in making the trip. altho
warned of rhe danger by his superin-
tendent, just two days before he met
his death. Mr.. Rogers telephoned Mr..
Willigrod OH Monday, before he start
ed for work. that he was going to be on
territory where man had never trod.
and when he returned be would tell
him all about the wonderful trip.
One San Francisco paper announces
that the body has been recovered, but
Mr.. Willigrod says that this is an error.
an engineer for the same company, the
Western Pacific Railway. had Informed
him on the day he wrote that he
thought it would be impossible TO ever
get the body. Seven men. members of
Mr.. Rogers party. were with him when
he met his fate, and fifteen others were
sent out by the company Immediately
after the death was reported. 1t was
not possible to even bulge the body
from where 1t had been caught under a
rock, between 1000 and 1900 feet below
the top of the canyon.
The San Francisco Bulletin OF Fri
day gives the following particulars OF
Mr.. Rogers death:
&c. S. Rogers, the we'll known civil
engineer. while attempting prelimi-
nary survey of the wild and forbidding
gorges of the famous Bald Rock can
yon, lost his life in a manner almost
unprecedented. He made Il false step
on a projecting ledge Of rock and was
precipitated into the swirling waters
far below, and altho he had rope
around his body connected with party
of engineers and workmen at the top
of the cliffs that they might save him in
such an emergency, yet he was dragged
away from them by the sheer force of
the rapids and drowned while his COM
panions vainly tugged at the life line.
MFR Rogers was in the employ OF
the Western Pacific Railroad Company.
leading the surveys for the line over
the Sierras. He was running pre-
liminary survey thru the Bald Rock
canyon The canyon is about two miles
long and the cliffs on both sides of the
torrential river rise from 1000 to 1000
feet In PERCEPTIONS banks. The place
is one of the natural wonders of the
Sierras, tho but little Known beyond
the immediate neighborhood because of
its inaccessibility.
"For the purpose of making an in
vestigation into the character OF the
sides OF the cliffs near the base with a
view OF cutting thru railroad, he
caused himself to be lowered at the end
of a strong rope. He had on life
preserver TO keep him aflcat in case he
should fall into the river.
when down near the water he slip
ped on rock and dropped instantly
l,n CT Tho III
powerful at the spot where he fell that
he was sucked underneath a projecting
ledge, despite the efforts of the men
above to pull him up. The unfortunate
man was lost, a victim of his own dar-
ing in the perilous task of finding a
pathway for railroad. Nor were the
men able to pull out the body. which is
still held under the rocks at the end Of
the rope.
"a rescuing party left Mountain
House last evening for the river, with
the intention of making every effort
possible to recover the body from be-
meath the rocks in the treacherous tor
rent.
&c. g. Rogers was one of the most
widely known and foremost railroad
been identified with some of the most
gigantic engineering projects in the
western part of the country. For ten
years he has been employed by the
Union Pacific system, and the Trinity
Copper Company sought his services on
many occasions. For the last two years
he has beer connected with the West
ern Pacific Railroad Company, and lost
his life in It's service.
''He left the city last Wednesday and
was making. preliminary survey thru
Bald Rock canyon, Plumas county one
of the most inaccessible canyons in
The canyon is practically
owing to the rough nature
Of the landscape.
Mr.. Rogers was retained to make
the surveys for the Kings River canal,
wherein an expenditure of some $10,-
900 600 was involved. The maps he then
made are at present on file in the gem
eral land Office at Washington, and are
regarded AS the most ornate piece of
work In that department.
"Mr. Rogers was prominently men
toned for the office of city engineer In
Engineer ,Grunsky's place. and hts Gre
1entials were endorsed by host Of
eminent men.
..He resided at 2519 California street,
and was As years Of age.
Another frisco paper, the Call, In
speaking Of the death, gives an account
Of Mr.. Rogers professional work. He
was considered one Of the best engin-