Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-18
DROWNED In POTOMAC
FATAL ACCIDENT TO WILLIAM r.
HUBBARD.

While cruising down the Potomac about
a mile below the Great Falls yesterday
morning shortly after o'clock. the boat
overturned and William F. Hubbard, an
employee of the Department of Agriculture
was drowned and his companion, Robert w.
Ayres, narrowly escaped similar fate. The
two men were returning to this city from
Harpers Ferry. when in some manner the
boat became overturned. Hubbard, 1t Is
understood lost his grip on the boat and
sank, while Ayres chung on and was able
to land on a rock several hundred yards
down the river.
When word of the fatal accident reached
Washington, Capt. J. Barry Adams and f.
e. Olmstead, employees of the forest service.
as well as friends of Hubbard. went to
Vienna. Va, and from there to the scene OF
the drowning to aid in the work of re-
covering the body. Night came on without
any trace of the body though rigid search
had been made and the bed Of the river
dragged Messrs Adams and Olmstead re-
turned to the city last night, but returned
there this morning.
Last night the search was continued by
Captain Dick Walker. a fisherman and
boatman and an authority on water condi-
tons at this particular spot
Walker told Hubbards friends of the
whirlpools that abound at that point in the
river and CT the huge holes at the bottom
of the stream into which the young mans
body possibly sank and became lodged.
Started Saturday Afternoon.
Hubbard and Ayres left the office of the
bureau of forestry on F street Saturday af-
ternoon, and had arranged to return to
Washington Sunday night. Hubbard was
regarded by his friends as an expert ca
noeist and spent great deal Of time on the
water. He Is also said to have been an ex-
cellent swimmer.
Accordingto Mr.. Ayres' story, the trip to-
ward home was begun at Harper's Ferry
Sunday morning at early hour. The lit
tie craft giided along smoothly and the trip
was without incident until they reached the
mouth of Difficult creek, about mile and
half this side of Great Falls, Nd. Eddies
and whirlpools render swimming or canoe
ing dangerous at this point but as they
had never before encountred trouble here
they were not more careful than usual. The
canoe was overturned by counter current
almost soon the point was reached
According to Ayres, as soon as the boat
turned over they both grabbed the edges
of the canoe, endeavoring to prevent Its
sinking and to float 1t again They seized
the boat one at each end. For a few mo-
ments they remained in this position and
tried to prevent it's sinking. Hubbard, who
was the heaviest of the two, weighing 1870
pounds. carried his end of the canoe down
beneath the water. Hubbard lost his grasp
disappeared IN the water ana dld not again
rise above the surface. Thrown into a state
of bewtlderment by the overpowering cur
rents and eddies at the point where the
boat capsiZed it is believed Hubbard was al
once carried into one of the holes on the
river bed Mr.. Ayres drifted down stream
and managed to reach shore, when he ran
back to the point opposite where the boat
had overturned but saw no trace of Hub
bard anywhere. He fingered around the
banks for some time thinking he might
catch a glimpse of the body, but without
avail. He then summoned assistance.
The local harbor police were unable to
send its boat to the scene not being able
to navigate above the Chain bridge owing
to the peculiar condition of the river where
the drowning occurred it was impossible to
use the police boat or even the graphing
irons. The police of the GEORGETOWN pre-
cinct as well as precincts all along the
water front We're notified to keep on the
watchout for the body If it fioated down
stream
Mr.. Hubbard was twenty-eight years of
age and unmarried. His mother a widow
is away from America, being on a tour
through Europe. An uncle who resides here
Is temporarily out of the city. Mr. Hubbard
was reared in Canada before coming to
washington three or four years ago He
made a thorough study of the subject of
forestry In Germany and took a doctors de-
gree at Iuebngen, in Wurtenburg He was
regarded as an expert in forestry Hubbard
was young man of splendid physique and
pleasing personality. He was a member of
the Century Club and in out-of-door snorts
took great interest