Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-23
In Full View Of People
PoWerIeSS to Aid.
Alfred Jackson Of Providence,
Freezes TO Death at PaWtuxet.
Canoe 0verturns...Foot Caught In
Rocks...Two Comrades Saved.

Providence, Dec 22.-In full view OF
200 people who were poweriess 10 eX-
tend aid, Alfred jackson Of l64 Avn
son avenue, this city. was frozen TO
death while standing on rock under
the falls of the Pawtuxet river IN
Pawtuxet late Saturday afternoon.
jackson, with two companions, l..
p Mathewson, aged IS, of 1875 9Th
street. East Providence, and Jackscn's
brother, Arthur. had been carried
over the falls in a canoe. The other
two last named were rescued with
great difficulty and were removed TO
the Rhode Island hospital in a critical
condition from exposure.
The three left the PawtuXet Canoe
Club house about the middle Of the af-
ternoon and padded slowly down
stream Just above the falls they al
lowed the canoe to drift too near the
edge ana We're carried over. Their
snouts attracted the attention of men
in the street nearby. who ran to the
river wall and saw Mathewson float
ing down in the rapids, while Alfred
Jackson, standing on a rock half sub
merged in the water. just at the foot
Of the falls. was holding up his broth
er Arthur.
In this position the two youths were
less than two feet from the bottom Of
the falls and occasionally the water
coming over with extra speed, COMFY
pletely submerged them.
In spite of the danger Of his position
Alfred Jackson held on to his brother
until the life buoy to which a line was
attached, was thrown to him. Then
he tied the line about Arthur's body
aid so men on shore pulled Arthur to
safety
Mathewson, who had fioated down
stream, was rescued in a similar way
by catching a life buoy thrown from
nearby bridge.
Alfred jackson, in the meanwhile. re-
manned standing up to his waist IN water
close under the falls and when the would
be rescuers threw a line to him, expect
Ing to pull him TO place of safety, they
found they were unable to move him. In
the roar of the cataract his shouts could
not he heard. but it was evident that one
Of his legs had become caught under a
rock or some other object under water
Several Intellectual attempts We're made
to rescue him in the next half hour, Jack
son assistant until cold rendered him un-
conscious
Four young men, William Church
Dewey Knight. Harry Horton and Fred
Low, put out in a small skiff and man
aged to reach rock a short distance
be4ew that occupied by Jackson
While they held one end Of tie line the
other end of which was held on the short
DIR. CLIFTON Westcott got into a slliff and
pulled himself out hand over hand by the
line toward Jackson. But the bow of the
doctors skiff went under the falls and
the craft was capsized. DR. Westcott him
self having n narrow escape from drown
ing. He was pulled out by line thrown
from shore.
After the four men from the other skiff
had tried unsuccessfully to pull jackson
off the rock with a line which they threw
to him. Adclard Potovin, a young man Of
- wears. known as Merry Nat" because
OF various heroic feats in which he has
previously figured. went out hand over
hand over a line which jackson had tied
around his body and the other end of
which was held on shore.
Potovin reached the rock beside Jack
son and tugged at his shoulders in an eff
fort to pull him free. but was unable to
move him. After some time, Potovin be-
came benumbed by the icy water and was
forced to desist. He was pulled ashore
exhausted.
A short time after that jackson appar-
emily lost consciousness. and the crowd
on the bridge and on each shore of the
river. unable to lend him any hope Of
rescue. forced to him die
His body. half submerged remained in
n standing position below the falls when
darkness hid 1t from view. Jackson was
- years old and was employed as a clerk
in q Providence store
rIr NAM nrnAAlrnr1