The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-24
Merrymakers From II. S. A. C.
Lose Their Lives i'm the Blue.
Miss Gladys Irish and Walter w.
Goddard Die Together.
BOAT STRUCK A SNAG
Miss Fay Harrison Chung to the
Boat at and Was Saved.
Accident Occurred Between l
and 2 O'clock in Morning.


Manhattan, Kan. May 24-whiIe
drifting down the Blue river about
Two miles northeast of here return
ing from the annual picnic of the
Webster Eurodelphian literary So
cieties. the boat containing Miss
Gladys Irish. Walter w. Goddard,
Lester w. Coiner of Kansas City and
Miss Joy Harrison of Riley, struck
a snag and capsized. Mr.. Goddard
and Miss Irish were drowned.
Mr.. Conner attempted to save his
companion but was unsuccessful. He
then swan to the shore about fifty
rect distant. Miss Harrison caught
mold of the boat and kept af1oat for
several hundred yards before she
was rescued by members of the
boating party.
Students Search for the Bodies.
All day long hundreds of students
from the Agricultural college and
residents of the city dragged the
river in the vicinity of the tragedy
for the bodies of the young people,
but in vain. If the bodies are not
found soon dynamite will probably
be used.
Miss Irish was 10 years old few
days ago. She was the only child of
Mrs. Eusebia Nudge Irish. who has
been the matron of the Y. w. c. A.
home at the Agricultural college.
Mr.. Irish died in Kansas City about
four years ago. He was county at
torney here for number of years.
Mrs. Irish was Frustrated by the
tragedy and there is considerable
doubt as to her. recovery.
Mr.. Goddard. whose home was
near Minneapolis is said to have
been an only child He was a
freshman in the college.
Over one hundred happy college
boys and girls crowded in the boats
late in the afternoon and started
down the Kansas river for their an
nual picnic. After drifting along a
around until after dark. Then the
boys loaded the boats on wagons and
they were taken across narrow
strip of land to the Blue river which
flows into the Kansas river just east
of there. The picnickers then en-
was after midnight before the last
boat got off. Mr.. Coiner tells the
following story of the events that
followed:
Story of One of the Survivors.
3'Mr. Goddard was sitting in the
back of the boat with Miss Irish. 1
sat in the middle with the oars and
manner we drifted away from the
rest of the party and were going
around a bend about forty or fifty
feet from the bank when suddenly
the boat slid on to a snag or an
overturned tree. and turned over in
an instant.
ST could swim a little and at
tempted to assist my companion.
grabbed for something while in the
water, but it was only hat I was
unable to see anything else. BY hard
work reached the shore My
iS Fri CHI
Goddord clutched each other when
the boat went over. I did not hear
a sound from them and they prob
ably died together. Miss Harrison
had presence of mind enough to hold
to the side of the boat and was able
to keep afoat until rescued
Miss Harrison Taken From the Water
Urfa A Domsch heard the screams
of Miss Harrison and was the first
others in his boat. she was rescued.
Miss Harrison showed unusual nerve
as she kept perfectly calm and did
just what her rescuers told her to do.
The water in the vicinity of the
drowning is 20 feet deep.
far ahead of the Inflated party and
did not know about the tragedy I'M
til hours after it occurred. Most of
those in the vicinity of it refused to
continue the journey in the boats,
but landed and walked into the city
where a search party was organized.
sunshine and rain the
workers toiled. but their efforts were
Gloom pervades every corner of
the city as both young people were
well known and popular. Almost
every one able is helping in the
search. There were small congrega-
tons at the churches and the only
topic of conversation was the I'M
timely death of the young people
Mrs. E. Thompson, of Kansas City,
a sister to Mrs. Irish. Is in the city
today. Melvin R. Nudge, of Kan
sas City, a brother, was Frustrated
by the news and is not able to come.
Another brother. j. B. Nudge, re-
sides here. Other relatives in