The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
HAVEN At HAND, GIRL is
DROWNED IN FALL CREEK
First Victim Is Lost When Boat
Upset, After Rescuers' Work
Seemed Done.
HEROES FIGHT FLOOD
Brave Death, and Strong Men
Faint After Ordeal-Now in
Hospital.

The first fatality of the food period oc-
CURED last night near the Indiana-avenue
bridge at Fall creek. Goldly Brennaman, a
young girl. was drowned and a number of
others were thrown into the water and ex-
posed so much that they are not expected
to live
Mrs. Hester Cooley and Miss Brennaman
were sisters and occupied a house on
Eleventh street on Fall creek. About Z
o clock last night passersby heard appeals
for aid coming from the house. Investiga-
ton showed that the two women were in
a very serious plight. Their dwelling was
entirely surrounded by water and it was
rising rapidly.
Denny Judd and Tom Barnley volunteered
to go after the women in small boat which
they had procured. Starting from the
bridge on Indiana avenue they made the
trip in safety and had nearly reached the
bridge. AT this point they encountered a
very strong current which turned their boat
around. Judd and Barnley made every eff
fort to right it but could not do so. The
skiff upset and the entire party was thrown
into the water.
Miss Brennaman went down and did not
come up again. Judd seized Mrs. Cooley
and then grasped some bushes. Barnley
hung on to the upturned skiff.
DOC" Smith and Hirman Richardson
were standing on the shore. When they saw
the accident they jumped into a boat and
started for the people. They reached Judd
and Mrs. Cooley first and getting her into
the boat started for the shore AS soon
as Mrs Cooley reached the shore she was
put in a wagon and taken to the City Hos
pital. At this time the widest excitement
prevailed as the spectators thought that
the woman was dead.
She was unconscious from exposure she
had undergone when the wagon reached the
hospital.
Smith and Richardson started back after
the two men and just they were starting
Richardson fell from the boat into the wa
ter.
1t was seen that he was very weak and
Smith told him not to go but Richardson
would not listen to this and as soon as he
recovered lie jumped into the boat and
started out. They reached Judd and Barn
ley. The boat had started back but soon
ran into a very swift undercurrent This
made it necessary for the men 10 go further
up before they could effect landing. After
going up stream for about block the men
tried to come to shore but could not make
it, the current keeping them out about
twenty-five feet. A number of men, led
by Dr.. Jeffries, of the City Dispensary,
waded into the water and tried to reach
the boat TO pull it in, but were unable to
do so. The men in the boat were pulling
away with all the strength they had left
ana yet tney OlQ not seem 10 De dDl6 10
make the boat move very far.
Smith then yelled, Boys l am going to
make one more pull" They all pulled to-
gether and the boat was sent across in
safety Just as 1T reached shore Smith said,
Get me some place quick" and then fell in
a faint.
Richardson seemed to be delirous. Judd,
Barnley and Smith were placed in the City
Dispensary ambulance and taken to the
City Hospital. Great fear was expressed
about the patients at the hospital last
night on account of the great exposure
which they had undergone.