The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-05-19
FAITH A. POWERS
BODY ARRIVED
LAST NIGHT
Victim of Canoe Accident at
MiddIebury
FUNERAL AT $50 TOMORROW
Evidence That Young Woman Was
Unconscious When Swept Over
Dam and Fall Caused Death,

Charles N. Powers arrived last
night on the southbound sleeper from
Middlebury with the body of his
daughter, Faith, who was drowned
Saturday night In canoe accident on
Otter Creek. When discovered Mon.
day afternoon the body was not mutt.
lated, the large volume of water un.
doubleday acting as protection
while the young woman was being
carried through the rocky gorge below
the dam.
After being removed from the water
the body was taken to the establish
ment of a Middlebury undertaken and
prepared for burial and the casket
was then taken to the train.
AS is always the case In a fatal
accident there are numerous rumors
Immediately following the event that
are conflicting and erroneous. Now
that the witnesses of the drowning
have recovered from the excitement
and fright incident to such a shocking
fatality there Is general conviction
that the young woman was in q semi
or fully unconscious condition when
she went over the dam. II Is now the
general belief that she must have
tainted from fright soon after the
overturning OF the canoe, for had she
been In possession OF her senses she
would have been able TO grasped the
pole which some OF the young men
pushed out TO her from the bank and
thus been saved. The screams re-
ported TO have come from the young
woman just as the canoe seemed TO
hesitate before plunging over the
dam are now believed TO have been
uttered by SOME one on the bank or the
bridge.
At the time the body was discover
ed II was being CARRIED along by the
current and with some difficulty was
removed from the creek. placed In a
boat and taken ashore. Ii was then
removed to the home of Miss Powers
aunt. Miss Catherine Tinney on
Washington street and given in
charge OF c. A. Piper. undertaken.
When taken to the train the remains
were escorted by the entire student
body of Middlebury college and the
faculty.
An examination of the body disclos-
ed the fact that she was not drowned
on being swept over the falls but that
the side of her head must have come
in contact with rock when she made
the long descent, receiving a blow
that would have caused death. Ap-
parently there was no water In the
lungs and there is no doubt now that
the young woman was dead almost in
stantly after passing over the dam.
No blame whatever for the unfor-
tunate affair Is attached to Ivan Wins.
low, the Middlebury college senior
who was Miss Powers companion on
the night OF the accident. Not only
was he not at fault but he made
mighty effort to save the life of the
young woman who had entrusted her
self to his care. apta@ D.
Winslow was padding the canoe to
the boathouse with the intention of
landing and as they approached the
building Miss Powers put out her
hand to catch hold of the platform.
Winslow naturally leaned in the op-
posite direction TO maintain the bal.
ance OF the canoe and IL Is more than
probable that startled by the sudden
dip OF the craft the young woman
quickly shifted her body to the oppos.
lite and outward side of the canoe. or
this Winslow was not certain /as he
was unable to see in the dark.
The canoe tipped over toward the
center of the stream and away from
the boathouse. Winslow was wearing
an overcoat and was hampered In his
actions by the weight of the garment.
but he managed to rid himself of the
encumbrance and to draw Miss Pow
ers onto the bottom of the canoe.
With one hand on the stem end of the
little craft and swimming with the
other he endeavored to push the canoe
and its burden toward the shore.
Several times he almost succeeded
but In each instance the strong cur
rent against the boat, which rode at
slight angle with the bank, tore him
away. Once his toes touched the bot.
tom but the soil was too soft and the
bank too steep to give foothold and
he was again swung into the stream,
On his last effort he swan to the
bow of the canoe and attempted to
pull 1t ashore. He was too thorough.
ly exhausted to make much progress
and finally grasped some overhanging
willows and when dragged to the
bank was nearly unconscious and
still imagined that he had hold of the
canoe with the other hand
The belief that Miss Powers was
unconscious or nearly so when she
went over the falls is borne out by
the statement of Winslow who said
her body was limp and unresisting
when he dragged her upon the bottom
OF the overturned canoe The fact
that she paid no attention to the eff
forts to effect a rescue by means OF
a pole would indicate that she was
senseless.
All day Sunday young Winslow was
delirious and in his wanderings i'm
agined that he had been successful
In saving the life of the young woman.
MY God, thought had lost her, but
I've got her. he muttered time and
again.
The body was found at 1880 o.
clock Monday forenoon by Sheldon
Smith and Frederick Brainerd who
were In boat with graples As the
boat passed over'the spot where the
body rested the water was so clear
and shallow that IL could be seen