, 1906-06-18

AT DENVER
SAD ENDING OF YOUNG MAN BORN
AND REARED IN THIS CITY
IN BERKELEY LAKE IN
THAT PLACE.

Beyond HIS Depth and body Not
Recovered Until Next Day-Broth.
err at French Notified n Remains
Will Be Brought to This City for
Observation-Disclosures in Laramie.
Bert" Finfrock, born and reared in
this city, was drowned at Denver Sat.
urday afternoon. The body was re
covered on Sunday and will be brought
to this city Tuesday night and buried
from the Presbyterian church on We'd
nesday afternoon, with services by
Rev. A. C. Hogbin, the pastor of the
church. Word of the drowning Of the
young man reached the city Sunday
morning, and later in the day Mr..
Stryker, the undertaken, was asked to
take charge of the funeral arrange
ments. Ed Finfrock, a brother of the
dead man, was notified from this city
by long distance telephone at his home
at French and will reach the city to-
night or tomorrow morning. Old
friends of the family here will lend all
their assistance.
How Accident Occurred.
The Denver Sunday morning papers
tell the story of the drowning as fol
lows:
Exhausted by his struggles for life
in the t~reacherous water of West Berk-
ely lake, A. M. F%infrock, a draughts-
man in the employ of the city, was
drowned within arms length of rescue.
Send the boat! For Gods sake,
the boat!" the young man
when he found himself beyond his
depth. In a moment one of the boys
standing on the bank went to the as
sistance of the drowning man. When
he came neal he showed out an oar,
at which Finfrock clutched frantically.
Sank to Rise No More.
But help came too late. Finfrock
had been so exhausted by his previous
OIL uSSlSo lhdl Ills hdllu STU HUH lut
slippery oar blade and he sank be-
meath the water, under the eyes and
within a few feet of John Lamley, his
would-be rescuer. Peggy Lewis, a
noted swimmer, was summoned to the
place and tried to locate the body of
young Finfrock by diving, but was un-
successful.
Finfrock was out for a Saturday
afternoon holiday. He left the city
on a Berkeley car at 2 o'clock and
hired a boat to row to the west side
of West Berkeley lake. The water
looked cool n inviting and, although
he could not swim, an old scow that
appeared to be moored neal the shore
seemed a safe resting place. Finfrock
dotted his clothes, which were after
ward found on the bank, and sc did
George Carruthers of 2675 Douglas
street, and the two made their way to
the floating o
Companion Swims Ashore.
There was a heavy wind blowing
from the west, and Carruthers noticed
that their float was drifting far from
shore. He jumped off the float and
made his way to the bank. When Fin
frock tried the same thing it was too
late.
Finfrock was 80 years of age and
was the son of DR.. j.. H.. Finfrock, an
old army surgeon and for years a com
pany doctor in the employ of the Union
Pacific. Both his parents are dead.
Finfrock was raised in Laramie, Wyo.,
and was sent to New York and Paris,
when he was but II years of age, to
study art. He liked engineering bet
ter and took up this profession later in
life. He has been in Denver many
times and has made his residence here
for the past year, during most of
which time he has been employed by
the city. He resided with his aunt,
Mrs. A. T. Wells, and his cousin, Mrs.
S. H. Fisher, at 1880 South Fourteenth
street.
Was Lover of Nature.
Mrs. Fisher was grief-stricken as a
result of the tragic death of the young
man. She stated that he was a lover
of nature, and spent all of his holidays
boating and fishing. He was anxious
to learn to swim and went often to
Berkeley lake, where he practiced.
Was Here Two Years Ago.
Mr.. Ffnfrock went to the public
schools in Laramie, and two years ago
spent the summer here, in an attempt
to organize a class in art among the
students. He went form here to Den
yer and has not since been in the city.
His brother, Ed Finfrock, was the first
white child, according to tradition,
born in this city, and his parents were
among the first to recognize the pos
sibility OF growing flowers and vines