The Washington herald., 1909-01-07
MUST FIND BODY
TO GET INSURANCE
Relatives of J. H. Painter TO
First Prove Death.
RIVER KEEPS GRIP ON VICTIM
Fishermen Have Dragged waters
fo- a Month in VRin-POlicy Of
$500 Was Held by BOtAnist Who
Perished In Strange Canoe Trip
with HIS Boy Friend, r. = wallis

Because Of their inability 70 recover
the body Of Joseph H Painter, twenty
nine years old. VINO was drowned with
Robert $ Wallis. sixteen years old. on
December 6 last, and thereby prove ne
Is dead, relatives Of the former cannot
recover $50 life insurance.
4 reward OF $50 has been offered for
the recovery OF each body, and this has
stimulated the search on the Upper Po-
tomac below stubbleheld Fails Unsatis-
factory results have discouraged the
fishermen g. work. and she search has
been abandoned
Il IS believed the bodies viii not he re-
covered until spring, as the advent OF
cold weather VIII I'll the river with ice.
causing tie water 20 become muddy
and making the recovery OF the bodies
almost impossible. Nets and barriers
have been erected across the river below
the scene OF the tragedy. but unless
these are removed they viii be torn away
by floating ice. old river men say.
The Surviving Relatives.
Painter was not married. and there are
no surviving relatives who were depend
ent upon him for support He is survived
bv brother. Amos Painter. Of Darby.
Pa: a sister. Mrs. Ulysses Hoge. living
in Nj. Rainier, Nd and an aged grand
mother. Mrs Lydia House. ninsty-four
years old. living with a grandniece II
Westcheste-. Pa
Il IS understood Painter contributed
toward the support Of his grandmother.
and insured his life in order she might
b provided FOR in the event Of his death.
Relatives say the money viii be devoted
TO the maintenance or the aged woman.
# the body s. recovered
II the body is not recovered. the insur-
ance company VIII pay the money at the
expiration OF seven years under the laws
Of the District. it is said. but this gives
rise % question. in view OF the myster-
ious circumstances Of the drowning.
Seldom in recent years has the Potomac
been the scene Of tragedy surrounded
BY such peculiar circumstances as those
attending the drowning OF Painter and
Wallis. Painter, q botanist at the Ma
tionaI Museum, and Wallis. an electrical
student, living with his widowed mother.
AT l24S Eleventh street northwest, left
their homes early Sunday morning for A
canoeing trip on the Upper Potomac.
Painter was a member Of the Biological
Field Club. and housed his canoe in the
club shanty. about two miles above Cabin
John Bridge
The man and boy left the shanty
in the canoe. and started paddiins toward
Stubblefeld Falls. They were seen by a
number Of fishermen.
Shortly after noon. a capsized canoe. a
paddle. a cushion, and a hat were seen
floating down the river. A search failed
Of results. and the river was dragged, it
being assumed they had been drowned.
Old rivermen secuted the drowning
theory. on the ground that the river near
the scene Of the Overturning Of the
canoe was shallow and the water was
running slow. Painter was known as an
expert swimmer. and the boy was not
Of an excitab!e disposition.
Weeks os dragging and searching fail
ed to reveal the bodies. and although rel
atives mourn the man and boy as dead,
yet they cling family to the hope they
may be alive Mrs Wallis. mother Of
Robert. and Hugh. Wallis, an uncle. say
the boy would have notified them Il he
were alive
This leads 70 the belief Of some that
the canoeists met with foul play, and
their bodies may some day be found
il the woods near Stubbleheld Falls.
Painter was not known to have had
enemies He came TO Washington from
Pennsylvania TO accept the position Of
bOtanist IN the National Museum. IN
this capacity he made several trips TO
South America, and was twice sent to
Mexico on botanical expeditions. Painter
was a Quaker. and was affiliated with
the Orthodox Society Of Friends. West
chester. Pa He was also a member Of
COTC0rdia Pa Lodge, No 625. T. a. A NJ
Painter was regarded as 4 capable and
valuable man by officials IN the museum.
His ability as a botanist was appreciated,
as shortly before his death he received a