The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-05-18
CANOE UPSET AND
FAITH POWERS
DROWNED
Shocking Accident Kills Popular
Bennington Girl
BODY WAS RECOVERED TODAY
Miss Powers Was Visiting In Middle
bury and Went Canoeing Saturday
Evening on the Otter Crock.

Miss Faith Powers. youngest daugh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Pow
ers OF Grandview street lost her life |
at Middlebury late Saturday evening
through the overturning of canoe on
the Otter Creek. With Miss Powers
in the canoe was Ivan Wlnslow, a
student at Middlebury college from
which Miss Powers graduated last
year. His life was saved. The Mid
dlebury correspondent of the Rut-
land Herald gives the follow
ing account Of the accident:
Middlebury, May 17-Clinging to
an overturned canoe, Miss Faith
Powers Of Bennington, aged % years,
was swept through the rapids in Otter
creek and over the falls to death last
night In full view of men who watch
ed helplessly from the stone bridge
under which the screaming young
woman passed. Ivan Winslow, Miss
Powers companion, was carried some
distance down the stream when the
canoe capsized. being unable to assist
the young woman. lie finally caught
hold OF some bushes and was drag
ged ashore.
Young Winslow was In a critical
condition today as result of the
shock following his experience, but
had improved slightly tonight. He
has only vague recollection OF the
circumstances connected with the ac-
cident.
A search was conducted during the
night and today for Miss Powers
body, dynamite being used below the
| falls, and the stream was dragged for
several miles. The body had not
been recovered late this evening when
the efforts were discontinued temper
arily. A diver will be employed to-
morrow to search the river below the
falls. II is believed the body. may
have been caught among the rocks or
carried into Lake Champlain.
| Winslow and Miss Powers started
canoeing early In the evening and
were returning when the accident DC
CURED about 1880 o'clock. When
only few feet from the boathouse,
Winslow. It is understood. stepped to
one side Of the canoe in order to
reach the boathouse platform. The
frail craft was suddenly overturned,
both the occupants being thrown In.
to the water.
When Miss Powers arose to the sur
face she caught hold OF the canoe,
which was swiftly borne away by the
current In the rapids. Winslow was
carried down the river for several
yards at the same time. making every
effort to reach the canoe. At point
about 100 yards above the falls Wins
low succeeded in grasping the bushes
and held on until assistance arrived,
his cries and those of Miss Powers
having attracted a number of people
to the bridge under which the stream
flows directly through the center of
the village business district. Miss
Powers screams as she. approached
the falls, could be heard a long dis
lance. but although the young woman
and the overturned canoe could be
plainly discerned from the bridge and
an attempt was made to rescue her
the effort proved unsuccessful owing
to the swiftness of the current at that
point.
hp oP'StttOio cav tuC NtlliCN
to the verge of the falls, still clinginG
to the canoe, then she was swept GU,
Of sight. The falls drop about 25 fee,
and the young womans body did no,
reappear, The overturned canoe was
located this afternoon in an eddy be
low the falls, after dynamite had been
used frequently. One end of the
craft had been crushed open by con
tact with the rocks as II went over thu
falls.
Ii was said today that young mar
whose name could not be learned at
tempted to reach Miss Powers will
pole from the bank of the rivel
about 400 yards above the falls. a.
she floated by. The story could no
be verified There were other stor
les circulated to the effect that tn,
canoe did not tip over, but remained
upright with the young woman inside
until near the falls.
She was very popular In college cir
Giles and was member Of the Pi Bet;
Chi. When the junior exercises be
gan here last Thursday Miss Powers
came to Middlebury as did man.
other alumni. II is recalled that he
chum. Miss Theresa Graves, died o
typhoid fever at the college abou
two and one half years ago. He
death Is understood to have been tn
first there in rs years.
Winslow is q senior at Middlebur
college and was captain OF last year
football team.
Miss Powers was 90 years Of ag
and one of the most highly esteeme
young ladies in Bennington. Sh
graduated from the Bennington hig
school in 1903 and entered Middle
bury college that fall. graduating !
1907 In school and college she ranl
ed high, being ,one Of the leadin
members of her class at both scho'
and college. She was intending
become a teacher but did not begl
this year owing to Illness at the ope
ing of the school year last fall.
She went to Middlebury last We
nesday to spend few days among &C
lege friends and was intending to +
turn today. She was a member
the Second Congregational chur'
and a teacher in the Sunday scho'
Besides her parents she leaves OF
sister, Miss Cecil Powers, and ty
1 brothers, John and Charles Jr.
The first news received here OF G