The Western news., 1904-06-22
HE AND HARRY BULLOCK DROWNED IN THE
BITTER ROOT RIVER.
EVENT CAST GLOOM OVER Community
Boy Slips From Pier OF Mill Dam-Rich PIunges
10 the Rescue-Both Bodies Recovered
Funerals Held Yesterday

The beautiful, but cruel and treach
erous Bitter Root river has claime
two more victims. On Sunday even
ing Ernest Dexter Rich and Harr,
Bullock, two of the flower of the you'll
OF this community, met death b,
drowning beneath its clear, blue sur
face.
Thomas Cook, an eye witness, re
lates the following particulars of tn,
terrible tragedy. He stood at van
tage point near the big mill dam and
retaining his presence of mind, saw
everything that transpired.
| Boy Falls Into Sluice-way.
A. W. Fairbalrn accompanied by
his little son and Harry Bullock was
fishing from the new pier at the cas-,
end of the milldam, short distance
west of the A. c. M. Co. sawmil. He
concluded to change his position and
st arted to walk along the log curb OF
the pier toward the dam. Following
just behind him came Harry Bullock
and then his own little six-year-old
son. Suddenly Harry's feet slipped
and he shot down feet foremost into
the sluice-way between the piers, along
which the water rushes with frightful
velocity. Mr.. Fairbairn hearing the
boy scream turned hastily, grasped
the situation and. dropping his fish
pole, ran to the end of the pier, clam
bered down to the waters edge, hang
ing by one hand to the curb, and tried
to reach the boy, but could not as the
water swept him by beyond his
reach.
At the lower end of the sluice-way
that leads from the gates of the dam
monster eddies are formed where the
water is whipped into white foam.
Here the boy disappeared, coming to
the surface in the swift current below
a moment later with his little arms
lifted appealingly upward.
Rich to the Rescue.
One hundred yards below the dam
near the mouth of the waste sluice
that rushes between the dam and the
mill, Mr.. Ernest Rich and Miss Anna
Strong, his betrothed, were strolling
along the breakwater. They had
witnessed the accident and Mr.. Rich
evidently realized that he alone could
save the boy. Without an instant's
hesitation he threw off his coat and
plunged into the swift stream, wading
to point where the boy must pass.
The current swept the boy almost
within reach, but to grasp him it be-
ca me necessary for Mr.. Rich to plunge
forward, swimming, into the deeper
water where he seized the boy; but
meanwhile the swift current had car
ried them farther out into the river.
Rich, still holding the boy above wat
er, swan towards little islet covered
wi ith willows, but was swept past it
a nd by this time was far out in the
r liver. He then turned and began
S winning strongly towards the east
ank, but either he was overcome by
his burden, or cramps, or the current
was too strong for him, for after
a while he ceased struggling and dis
appeared from view around a bend
in the river. Meanwhile Cook had
FASTENED along the bank, arriving Just
in time to restrain the frenzied girl
from throwing herself into the river
for the mad purpose of attempting to
rescue her sweetheart, who was al
ready beyond human aid. The tragedy
about six O'Clock and the in
cidents above narrated consumed not
over three or four minutes.
Boatmen Recover Bodies,
An alarm was quickly given; the
big gates of the mill dam were shut
down and in short time d large
bateau, manned by John Stephens, !
Andy Heary, James Mccoy and Frank
ymkins, two men at the oars, floated
1own the river in quest of the bodies. |
the alarm had been sent
1own the valley and search parties
speedily gathered along the river.
The boys, still clasped together, were