The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-02-25
Three DROWNED
IN ROUGH RIVER
Sunday Afternoon While
Riding in Dingey Boat.
Watchers Searching for The Bod
les that had Not Been Recover
ed Wednesday Afternoon.
THE DEAD.


Wilson Aubrey.
Miss Nell Aubrey.
Mrs. Jessie Aubrey.
Wilson Aubrey, his sister, Nell Au-
trey, aged 10, and his sisoer-in-law,
Mrs. Jessie Aubrey were drowned sun
day afternoon at Hite's Falls, this
county. viii Aubrey, who was in rhe
party, escaped by swimming ashore,
Hite's Falls are series Of rapids
in Rough river, about 10 miles east
of Fordsville. The tosal fall is about
10 feet in less than half a mile, with
a whirlpool below, in which nothing
can live when the tide Is rising.
The Autreys lived near The falls,
and on Sunday afternoon, hearing 4ho
roar of the water, which was rapidly
rising on account of the melting SNOW
the four walked to the Tiver 80 watcn
the swelling tide Will Aubrey had
recently married the daughter of Mr..
Robert Bratcher, a prominent farmer
and a member of one of Ohio coun-
tvs oldest and best families
After Watching the wild flood for
a short time the party walked up the
river intending 10 call upon neigh
Dor. A short distance above ohe falls
they saw a dingey boat in drift a
few feet from the shore, a paddle ly-
ing in the bottom. Crawling out on
a drift, Robert Aubrey secured the
boat and dragged it TO the shore. II
was then hauled out and turned ever
to let the water out, after which 1t
was launched and the party gOt in for
a ride, the young women objecting
and the men assuring them th@5 there
was TO danger,
The crazy craft was pushed out in
the stream, but being water-logged 1t
was found impossible to manage it.
1t was quickly swept out into the
swift current and despite all that
could be done, II started madly for
the falls. The women screamed and
while one of the men piled the paddle
with all of his strength, The oJhor
jumped overheard and tried by SWIM
ming in the WAGER, which was filled
with floating ice, to assist IL 20 the
shore.
Not an inch of Roadway could be
made against the angry flood, and
faster and faster the boat flew 10 de-
struction. when the first fall was
reached the dingey was headed straight
across the river and in the first foot
of its descent its lower edge dipped
In the water, which checked Ut for an
instant, and then It. was whirled over,
catching all three of the occupants
beneath it and breaking the hold Of
viii Aubrey, who was swimming at
one end.
Not one of the three wits seen
again, as the boat raced down the
rapids. VIII Aubrey was swept along
with it, but could never Teach it,
and finally he was thrown in the
brush on the shore. He was exhaust
ed and more chan half drowned, and
could only hold to the branches
and wait for his returning, strength
Finally he was able to pull hllmsslf
on shore, but he was too weak to
give the alarm, and IL WAS some
time before he could raise his voice
for that purpose. His cries weie
heard, but no attention was paid to
them at first, and when they had
continued for long time some men
went to him and learned of the
awful tragedy.
BY that time 1t wis Late in the
afternoon and before searching par
W could be organized 1t was night.
The news spread rapidly Through the
neighborhood and crowd Ehronged
the banks of the river. Far into che
might the watch was kept up, butt to
no purpose. BY morning the river had
risen 10 fest, and all day Monday 1t
continued to come up until dhe lowest
banks were overlooked making all
efforts to recover the bodies useless.
They still rest beneath the flood, and
slowly the little community is recover
ing from the shock, hoping THAT the
dead may be recovered when She wa
tiers subside. or that they will be