Arizona republican., 1909-05-03
DEATH DEALT
AWFUL BLOW.
Valued Life Lost Through a
Terrible Mistake
FULL DETAILS ARE LACKING
A. H. Demrick Engineer of
the Reclamation Service
Drowned in Sluicing Tun-
mel at Roosevelt. Narrow
Escape of Engineer Harris.

The saddest of all tragedies IN con-
nection with the construction of the
Roosevelt Dam. occurred yesterday
morning about O'Clock when A. II.
Demrick was drowned and A. L. Har-
ris narrowly escaped death, in the
sluicing tunnel, through which the
water runs from the reservoir to the
river below the dam. Several lives
have been forfeited in the progress OF
this work. but usually the victims have
of their own Volition taken chances
against danger or suffered through cir
cumstances humanity unavoidable. In
this case it appears that the men
themselves in no way contributed to
their desperate situation which was
brought about through others, but by
whom and to what extent responsible
itv should attach lis not known here.
Justice to all demands the suspen-
sion of criticism, at least until all facts
are learned.
A II. Demrick was an electrical en-
gineer in charge of all the electrical
and power construction of the project
A brother resides at Mesa City and
was Immediately informed and left in
the direction of Roosevelt. The body
was recovered within an hour after
the drowning and dispatched toward
Phoenix Undertaken Tom Whitney of
the firm of Easterling & Whitney of
this city, left on the noon train for
Mesa City where an automobile was
secured and he proceeded to Fish
Greek station where. according TO tele-
phonic advices, the body arrived about
mid-afternoon and where it was prob
ably met by the bereaved brother.
Nothing is known yet concerning its
subsequent disposition.
A. L. Harris is an engineer of the
reclamation service and is the princi-
nal assistant of c. w Smith who is
resident engineer in charge of the con-
struction of the Roosevelt dam. He
has had personal charge of the Install
alton of the gates in the sluicing tun-
mel and he and Mr.. Demrick were en-
gagged in their inspection when the re-
grettable incident occurred. Mr.. Har-
ris was swept through the tunnel and
rescued from a pool in the river below.
badly bruised and battered but not so
seriously hurt but that he could walk
home.
The facts were teiephoned to Super
vising Engineer L. c. Hill in Phoenix
as soon as possible. Mr.. Hill left for
Mesa City on last evenings train and
will proceed to Roosevelt today, accom-
panied by ]. H. Quinton Of Los Ange-
les, a consulting engineer of the ser
vice, with whom Mr.. Hill intended to
go to Roosevelt with in a day or two
anyway What he does today will be
governed by what he learns when he
meets Mr.. Demrick's brother. Should
there be any funeral ceremony today
at Mesa City or elsewhere
in this valley, which is
hardly thought probable. Mr.. Hill Will
return with the bereaved brother. Be
fore leaving Phoenix Mr.. Hill left or
ders that in such an event the reclaim
alton offices in this city should be
closed out of respect to the dead. If
the obsequies are longer delayed or the
body is sent elsewhere for interment.
Mr.. Hill will proceed to Roosevelt to
investigate the circumstances person.
oil