The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-09-10
Drowned at Kinstor.

Granville and One Time
Resident of Henderson, Lost
His Life.
A sad case of drowning occurred
at KinstOn Wednesday afternoon of
last week during the food in the
Neuse river there The victim was
Mr.. o. W. Patterson, who lived in
Henderson several years ago, being
employed as book-keeper for Mr..
Owen Davis just before he quit the
tobacco warehouse business Mr..
Patterson was a native of Granville
county, son of Mr.. J. p. Patterson,
and nephew of our countyman, Mr..
J. {. Fleming Deceased was 20
years old and was boOk-keeper for
the National Bank of kinston. a
position which he had held for several
years. The Free Press speaks Of him
AS heing one of the best known and
most popular young men in the city.
i'll whom the bank officials where he
was employed had the utmost con-
fidence.
From the account OF the accident
given in the Free Press we take the
following:
With a party consisting of Messrs. c. E.
Spear, {. W. Pridgen and Asa Hawkins.
Mr. Patterson was enjoying an outing
on the river that had been swollen by
the recent rains to unheard of dimensions.
The party had entered Mr.. Asa Haw-
kns's gasOlene boat and started to run
down the river to see the extent of the
flood in the neighborhOOd of the county
iron bridge. 1t was their intention to
turn into the slough above the bridge,
on the east side of the river but the
swiftly flowing current was too much
for the craft. whose engine was power
less to prevent the boat striking the
bridge.
But for the rare presence of mind OF
Mr.. J. lvey Brown, who was on the
platform near the bridge, waiting for
boat to carry him across the river every
member OF the party would undoubtedly
have lost his life. Hearing a gasolene
boat approaching and looking round
he saw the boat and realized that the
occupants were in danger of running
into the bridge, as they were then with
in 100 feet OF the bridge, approaching it
10 miles an hour. he called to them to
stop the boat. 1t was then for the first
time that they realized their danger and
reversed the engine. For a moment the
boat stopped then began to drift with
the current to the bridge.
Calling to some people near to help,
Mr.,Brown ran onto the bridge AS the
boat reached the bridge Mr.. Pridgen
stepped on the bow and caught hold of
the bridge, the driveway of which was
even with his chest. and managed to
stay it for a moment. Mr. Brown reach
ed over and pulled him onto the bridge.
Just as the stem of the boat turned
round broad side
The Others in the party had jumped up
and grabbed at the bridge as the boat
swerved round Mr.. Spear caught hold of
an iron girder, two feet below the drive
way. Hawkins and Patterson fell
against the bridge together Patterson.
who was between the bridge and Haw-
kins threw up both hands wildly making
no attempt to catch on. He struck the
girder violently with HIS head and chest.
Hawkins caught the girder with one
hand and Patterson with the other.
Just as soon as Mr. Brown had pulled
Pridgen in, he dropped on his stomach
and caught hold of Spear. who was
losing his grip. He held on to him until
colored man, julius Grady, who had
run up, assisted him in pulling Spear up
onto the bridge.
Hawkins had sunk and on rising lost
his grip on Patterson. Messrs C. r.
Ball and Grin Weeks, who had run up.
caught Hawkins and pulled him out of
the water, as Mr.. Brown and Grady
saved Mr.. Spear.
Having struck the girders the boat
turned turtle and rolled under the bridge
coming up righted some 80 feet down
stream.
About $50 feet below, they saw Pat
terson's feet stick out of the water and
then disappear That was the last that
was seen OF him. A party rowing boat,
in the slough. was called and rowed out
to look for Mr.. Patterson. coat was
seen floating down the river and the
party made for that but found it to be
Mr.. Pridgen's. They then headed for the
launch which they tOwed to shore.
All the members of the launching party
were SO badly stunned by the accident
that it was some time before the rescur-
ers were able to learn who the fourth
member was.
News was brought to town i'm
mediately and searching parties organ
lied. The Pythians. of which lodge, Mr..
Patterson was an enthusiastic member.
have organized a systematic search for
the body. They have also offered a reward
OF $50 to the person or persons find
ing the body and bringing it to kins-
ton. There is little hope entertained Of
recovering the body soon, owing to the
height of the water
The accident has cast a gloom over the
entire community, for Mr. Patterson
was one of the most popular young men
OF the city. He was of an amiable, and
sincere nature absolutely clean and a
most exemplary character. Since COM
ing to the city several years ago he had
identified himself with the life of the city
and this was to him, home
The body had not been recovered at
last reports but the search is still being
kept up the Free Press says, the river
being dynamited in the vicinity of
where the accident occurred.
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