Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-08-11
VOL. III.-No. 35
SAD FATE
OF RECLAMATION SER.
VICE OFFICIAL.
|. w. Huffaker Loses His Life
While Swimming in
Irrigation Canal.

|. w. Huffaker, one of the Truckee-
Carson projects brightest young en-
gineers, aged thirty-one years, was
accidentally drowned in the l4-line canal
Tuesday afternoon at half past three,
while bathing in company with Charles
l.. Wilbur, fellow worker, at point
about four miles west of Fallon.
Whether Mr., Huffaker's death was
the result of heart failure, exhaustion
or cramp, will never he known The
volume of water at the point where he
met his death was quite large, forming
stream OF considerable sWiftness,
about sixty feet in width and twelve
feet in depth. He and Mr.. Wilbur had
IN appointment at the spot for three
O'Clock in the afternoon of the fatal ac
cident, with party OF engineers whom
they were going to show the site selected
for structure. The party being late,
they decided to swim until its arrival
Mr.. Wilbur, who was the only eye wit
ness to the sad affair, made the follow
ing statement as to the manner OF
drowning:
1--WE had been in the water about ten
minutes when | decided to swim across
the channel, although | am poor
swimmer p, Mr.. lluffaker was only
learning, and when he told me Of his
intentions OF following me across, | adj
Nised him not to fry it, as it was hazard
ous. After | had started | could hear
the water splashing behind me until |
had reached about midstream, when
the noise ceased Immediately looked
around, only tO get a glimpse OF
his hand which he was waving in the
air. lie made no effort to apprise me
OF his condition, nor did he even utter IA
single sound. As soon us he sank |
commenced diving as best | could, but
being poor diver and the water being
muddy, | could do nothing towards
effecting his rescue"
During the progress of Mr., Wilbur 5
attempt to rescue his friend, the eX-
pected party OF engineers arrived on the
scene, and they Immediately took steps
towards recovering the body. The
gates above We're closed, and as soon DIS
the water was lowered the search for
the body was begun, it being found at II
point nearly one hundred feet from
where it had sank. BY this time Or. J.
T. Rees had arrived and he used every
means available to revive the suspended
animation, but to no avail, as more
the time Of the accident and the recoY-
cry of the remains.
After every effort to resusctate the
deceased had proven futile, the remains
were brought to Fallon, where it was
taken in charge by Churchill lodge, +.
Il \. NJ. Ot which order deceased had
been acting secretary for several months
past. The lodge communicated at once
with the relatives at Wheatland and in
response to their request the body was
prepared for shipment by Undertaken
+. w. Black, and ON Wednesday after
noon County Recorder & W. Likes left
for Wheatand with the remains in
charge.
The deceased had hecn employed on
the Truckee-Carson project for five
wears past, and had worked himself up
from a subordinate position to one oi
the most responsible places on the pro-
iect, being in complete charge at the
time of death of Camp No. Four. He
came to Churchill county from Reno,
where he attended the state university
He was IA young man OF the highest in
tegrity, of exemplary habits, and Gre
ated for himself an enViabie reputation
for efficiency aud honesty with his bust
ness and social associates.
lie leaves lnOtnef, sisters ana
brothers at Wheatland, California,
at which point he attained to manhood.
DR.. Huffaker, leading physician of
Carson City, who is now travelling in
Europe is also Il brother.
God, in his omnipotence, reserves the
right to pick the iaircst from among us.
BY the death of Mr.. Huffaker the
mother, sisters and brothers lose a
devoted son and brother, while the
community loses n leading citizen and
the reclamation department an official
whose career seemed extraordinarily
bright
WHEATLAND, CAL.. Aug. l0.-The fun
eral OF the late !. W. lluifaker took
place here this afternoon. The services
were held ut the Methodist church, un-
der the auspices of the Masonic order.
Deceased had four brothers, Anthony,
now in Europe; Patrick, in the custom
house, San Francisco; James, p ncipal
of the Lincoln (Cal.) school, and Henry,
who resides with anonly sister at home.