The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-09-22
LAKE CREEK CLAIMS A VIGTIM
RALPH CORLEY GOES TO BOT
TOM WHILE IN SWIMMING.
Tried 20 Rescue Him, and Came
Near Being Drawn Under.

I For the second time in about tive
weeks-away out here on the plains
] Of western Kansas where nature has
been unkind in her distribution OF
! lakes and rivers. the people OF Good
land were shocked Friday by the news
that Ralph Corley had been drowned
the previous evening I'm Lake Greek,
on the J. A Parker ranch in the
southwest part OF this county, This
is the second case OF drowning in
Sherman county In less than three
weeks Corley was drowned in deep
hole in the creek while in swimming
with lothian Parker at $40 O'Clock
Thursday evening. His body was
taken from the water at 1920 O'Clock
the same evening and brought TO
town that night by J. ~ Parker. An
inquest was held by Coroner Quick.
and burial made in the GOodland
cemetery Friday afternoon. Funeral
services were held at the Methodist
church at = o'clock, Rev. John Ed
ridge, officiating.
Whether the unfortunate young
man was unable 10 swim or whether
he was taken with cramps in the cold
water is a mystery He went down
without a cry Of distress.
After the days work was over,
lothian Parker, a son OF J. a. Parker.
Parker ranch, went out for swim I'm
a deep hole in Lake creek not far
from Mr.. Parke'rs home 1t was a lit
tie after s O'Clock and the water was
cold. Young Parker, who had gone
swimming in the hole frequently. told
his companion how deep the water
was, and about the lay Of the bed.
He was first to take q plunge, swim
ming out into the middle and back
ing the middle and had turned TO
come back, when he seemed to be
unable to maintain himself. He dis
appeared and at the moment he came
up Parker threw out to him one end
OF his trousers, but somehow Corley
couldn't get hold OF the Hfe-string-
He went down and as he emerged
again Parker reached out a hand to
help, Corley grabbed hold of one Of
his fingers and drew his companion
under with him, when Parker jerked
loose. He was never seen again until
10 o'clock that night when a party
OF men on a raft succeeded in draw
ing his lifeless body from the pond.
That is the substance Of the testi-
mOny given at the cOrOner's inquest
at Bowers undertaking rooms and
the jury, composed of r. A. Kent,
Jack Detmer. Thomas Cole, Harley
HogebOOm. William TrachseI and c
H. O'Brien. brought in a verdict say
ing that Ralph CorIcy met death by
drowning.
Young COrley was q years Of age,
and spent most Of his boyhOOd days
in GoOdland. Eleven years ago, soon
after his foster mother, Grandma
Corley. died. he left GOodland and
went west Having no home he roam
cd like childen do that have no heart
ties for parental roof. a few years
ago he landed in Nebraska. where he
had relatives. and stayed there until
about two months ago, when he came
from Liberty. Neb., to GOOdland. he
had been employed by Mr.. Parker less
than two weeks when the end came.
The mention Of Ralph COrIey's
name brings up an incident Of tragic
history in Wallace county. His father.
whose name was COrley, was murder
ed by some Of the Mckinley family and
his body chopped up ard cast into a
hog pen. The mystery IN the crime
was soon uncovered and two o. the
Mckinley family were hanged to tele-
graph poles by enrage1 EeighhOTs.
They moved to GoOdland where the
boy was left by his mother to shift
for himself, and he was adopted by
his grandmother. His mother remar-
ried and is now living in Michigan,
but her address is unknown
The deceased is reported to have
had $3.50 from the sale Of a little
house which he owned in GOOdland.
willed to him by Mrs. COrley, but $3.50
| only has been accounted for, which
was on deposit at the First National
| bank.