The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-07-13
DIED OF HEART FAILURE
WHILE IN THE WA


Andrew ]. Johnson, one of the pop
ular drivers and machinists for the
Roswell Auto Company, met with sud
den death shortly after noon Sunday
while sefning for fish with a picnic
party at the big pond made by the
Milne-Bush dam in the South Berren-
do, three miles north of town. While
in the middle of the pond the young
man was stricken with heart failure,
and although he tried for a moment
to swim out, sank before he could
reach the bank and at the moment
he reached the deepest place in the
reservoir. At first it was reported
that he was drowned, but all indica-
tions pointed to the fact that he died
of heart failure, and a post mortem
ed beyond a doubt the accuracy OF
this theory.
The party had planned big fish
dinner, and Johnson and G. A. Fedde,
another driver-machinfst for the auto
company, started to sein the pond.
Both were dressed in underclothing,
overalIs and shoes when they went
into the water. Johnson jumped in
the water, wetting himself all over
at once, and started across the wild
walking On the bottom. When he was
we'll out in the water he dropped the
sein and began to act strangely; and
Fedde started to go to him to see
what was the matter, Johnson re-
naming silent. When Fedde reached
his side, johnson was swimming. evi-
IDENTIFY trying to make the opposite
bank, and as he was making good
headway Fedde let him swim. But an
instant later johnson sank, only the
top of his head remaining in view.
Fedde reached out and grasped the
sinking man, raising his head out OF
the water, and at the same time tell
ing him to take hold of him. Johnson
grabbed Fedde's side with a death
hold and both went under, Fedde
vainly trying to swim with the extra
load of wet clothing and helpless
man. By that time the two were in
water estimated at fifteen feet in
depth, and rs they went under Jonn-
son let go and sank without further
effort. He never rose again to the
surface and no air bubbles indicated
where he was. Fedde was exhausted
from previous effort and did well to
save himself. Sidney Prayer was on
the bank, a short distance away, and
ran to the rescue, diving after the
sunken man several times without
success. Clyde w. Lake, another
chauffeur, tried to render assistance,
but could not get to the place soon
enough.
At no time did Johnson act like
drowning man, and in the post mortem
examination it was found that there
was not a drop Of water in lungs or
stomach. The physicians state that
he died of heart failure and was dead
when he started downward. 1t is
known that Johnson was subject to
|heart-trouble, and his sudden plunge
into the chilly water was probably
the cause of his death.
The body Is now at the Dilley
morgue, awaiting word from relatives.
johnson came to Roswell two and
half years ago from Flat River, Mo-,
where he has fatser, mother, sis
ter, brother aM other relatives. He
came seekip. cure for tuberculosis,
and to outward appearances had en-
tirely recovered. He was "a years OF
age and was member in good stand
| ing Of the Knights of Pythias and the
Odd Fellows. He was clever young
man, of the best habits and dispos1-
| tion, and was liked by all who knew
him, especially for his manners. He
1 was beloved by his fellow employees,
and they most deeply feel the blow
| of his death.