The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-02
DEATH IN. SLOUGH
IS FATE OF BOYS
Wallace Johnson Loses Life in
Futile Attempt to Save
His Brother.
HER0ISM DISPLAYED
BY VICTIMS PLAYMATES
Bodies Are Recovered, but Not
Until After Water Had
Done Its Work.

Caught as If in trap. boy was
miserably drowned on Thursday in a
vain effort to save his brother from
similar fate. His foot clinched wise
like in a bedsprin9 which had been
thrown into the bottom of slough, the
boy struggled till he could struggle no
more.
Wallace Johnson, 10 years old. son
of o. NJ Johnson. carpenter, living
at 50 West Third South street, was The
hero who gave up his life for his brother.
Douglas Johnson s years old, was the
brother.
But Wallace johnson was not the only
hero of the fearful tragedy VIII Rich
ardson, IA years old, plunged into the
dark waters OF the pond and at the
risk of his life pulled Wallace loose
that the half-conscious boy might be
resuscitated. Then. with the wisdom Of
twice his years, young Richardson set
about the futile work of trying to bring
the boy 10.
John Pocock, another boy, Of 365
| South Ninth West street, was another
hero OF the day. He dived repeatedly
boy, but his efforts were in vain. Tho
body was recovered by Oliver johnson.
an older brother OF the two drowned
boys.
Details of Tragedy.
! The double drowning was one of the
mysterious moves on the checker board
of fate. Both boys had been in the
habit of bathing in the slough, which
is near Fourth South street, be.
tween Ninth West and Tenth West
streets.
When the lads went, about clock
in the evening, to take their swim,
the younger lad stepped first into the
water Unaware of a " chuck off - he
waded out for few feet and then
sank from sight. His brother, aware
that Douglas was unable to swim. tore
his clothes from him and leaped to the
rescue.
1t was deadly attempt. Plunging
head hrst in5o tile water, he CROPPED for
4 moment along the bottom trying to
find his brother. Then his foot became
entangled in a bedspring which some
householder had thrown there to be
rid of.
The Johnson boys were bathing with
number of their playmates, who.
panlc-stricken, rushed In every direction
without trying to give aid TO their com.
panions. One ran 10 the Jordan river,
| where the Richardson and Pocock bows
were bathing. Another ran 10 his
mother. a third carried the news to
the johnson home
Heroism Displayed.
The Richardson and the Pocock boy
and the Johnson boy set out about the
same time on a run for the slough The
Richardson boy was the first to arrive.
| Youngsters who had seen the johnson
boys sink pointed out the spot. With
out pulling of his clothes, which hs
had donned when he was called from
the Jordan, young Richardson leaped
into the slough. Shortly he reappeared,
bringing up the elder of the johnson
boys.
Then the brother of the two BOYS np-
peared. He went down after the other
brother. Shortly be brought him, too,
to the surface, while young Pocock was
aoundering around On the bottom trying
to find the body.
| As soon rs the unconscious lads were
taken to the banks of tho slough. young
Richardson set about rolling them and
showing his mates how to restore con.
sclousness, But their efforts were IN
vain. Both of the boys died shortly be-
fore the police patrol wagon, which was
sent out on a gallop, arrived.
Stanley y. Hanks. acting coroner, also
hurried to the scene, but he could do
nothing, The boys were taken homo
In the patrol wagon, where doctors were
sent for, but restoratives were of no
avail.