Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-11
BOY DROWNED IN
SWIMMING HOLE
LAD MEETS DEATH IN LOS
ANGELES RIVER
BODY FOUND BY DIVER AT Bot
TOM OF PIT
While Playing with Other Youths in
Gravel Excavation, He Falls from
Board and Dies, Being un-
able to Swim

While bathing in a gravel hole in the
bed of the Los Angeles river at the
foot of lie Grand street Hugh Thomas,
Is years old, of Pill Bay street was
drowned yesterday afternoon.
Although there were a number OF
other boys bathing in the pool at the
time, the only one who could be founo
and made to admit that he was wit
ness of the tragedy is Herbert Flint or
1927 Santa Fe avenue. He said:
I'VE thought 1t was warm enough 10
20 swimming, so we made some bath
ing suits out of old gunny sacks. We
played around in the water for While
and then | noticed that Hugh had
found an old board and was out in the
middle. He would lie on the board ana
cross from one side to the otner py
kicking his feet, for he could not swim
much-not more than few strokes
Then he slipped off the board and l
noticed that he seemed to have hard
time getting back again. but thought
nothing of it till he threw up his arms,
cried out and went under.
1--WE were terribly frightened then,
for none of us could swim. He came
up lust once. | waited, hoping to see
him come up again and clutch the
board, but his head did not appear
above the surface again. We ran
around looking for pole, but could not
find any, SO we yelled to some men
going by and they spread the alarm. l
guess the other bows ran away, because
/ heard one say If we stayed around we
would all get arrested"
Father is interviewed >
At the boys home ]. H. Thomas, the
father, who is contracting carpenter,
said Hugh had gone out about
o'clock after telling his parents he was
going down to the river with some boys
to play. He said nothing about going
In swimming That is the last they
saw of him. They do not know what
boys were with him.
Shortly after 4 p. m. telephone
message reached central police station
to the effect that a boy had been
drowned in the Los Angeles river be-
tween Seventh and Eighth streets. II
was hardly credited at first, as 1t did
not seem possible for any one to drown
in so shallow a stream as is the Los
Angeles river at this time of year.
However, Lieutenant Murray ordered
out the wagon and a force of bluecoats
to the scene. Patrolmen from the
Santa Fe station also were sent to the
place.
When the location of the accident
was pointed out to the police they set
about at once to make a raft. Loose
timber was procured and bound to-
getner.
Water Ten Feet Deep
Patrolman Earl Busse spliced a rake
to the end of a pole and sounded for
the body. The water was found to be
about ten feet deep.
After determining the exact location
of the body Lee Corrales of 2454 LIE
Grand street volunteered to dive for 1t
and was successful on the second at
tempt. The body was recovered at
5:15 o'clock.
The place in which the boy was
drowned is a deep hole made by sand
excavators, into which the waters OF
the river flow. Though only a few
feet across, it is from eight to twelve
feet deep During the summer months
it is used quite extensively as swim
ing hole by the boys who live in the
neighborhood.
The body was first removed in the
patrol wagon to the Thomas home and
later, at the order of Coroner Hart
well, to the undertaking establishment
of Bresee Bros.
Hugh Thomas was student in the
Seventh street grammar school. He
was diligent in his studies and consid-
cred exceptionally bright and promis-
ing. He had two brothers and three
sisters.