The La Jara chronicle., 1910-08-05
DROWNED IN RIO GRANDE.
Sad Death of ]. z. Trimmer
While on Pleasure Excursion.

| 81 r. L llhiltI, ii Souie idi hiVi
living on the Copeland place a
few miles west of La Jara, was
accidentally drowned in the Rio
Grande river. last Tuesday after
noon about 3 o'clock. Recently
it has been discovered that carp
are very plentiful in the river
and large numbers have been
caught by means of seine. Sein-
ing parties have become quite
common of late Such "a party
of - or Is was organized by La
lara and Sanford people last Tues
day and proceeded to the river
equipped with several large seines
joined together.
Game Warden Pursley recently
obtained from the state depart
mcnt number of permits grant
ing the right to seine for carp,
provided the game warden was
present to see that no trout were
taken, SO that the party We're act
| ing within the law.
Trimmer and Roy Kirby volun-
teered to take the seine across
the river and holding to one end
started across, followed at fre-
quent intervals by other mem
bers of the party. The point
where they started across was
just above the Culabra ford, a
good ford with gravel bottom
/ where the water is not much over
IA foot deep. The river was high
and muddy and the men had wad-
ed nearly across holding on to
a small pole attached to the end
OF the seine. AT point where the
water was about breast high they
stepped i'll to hole and disap-
peared. Trimmer did not come
up again but Kirby held onto the
seine and was dragged out by his
companions. Young Kirby had
swallowed considerable water but
was soon revived. Trimmer s body
was not recovered until the next
morning. Game Warden J. c.
Pursley was sitting on the bank
watching operations when the "a
cident occurred. He at once kick
ed off his shoes and sprang into
the river proving to be the best
swimmer in the party. Over the
spot where Trimmer sank he
dived again and again, but was
unable to find Trimmer or touch
bottom.
Besides Trimmer and Kirby
the fishing party was composed
of w. F. Middleton, Henry
Knight, A. S. Hawkins, Lyman
Carter and one of the Morgan
boys from Sanford, and several
others. The men dragged the
seine through the hole in the river
in hopes of catching the body but
to no purpose.
AS soon as the news of the
drowning was brought to town, a
searching party organized and
left for the scene which is about
II miles east of La lara. In the
party were Frank Phillips, Otto
Fulfs. larry Weist, John Killian,
Andrew Ilerbst, A. E. Mead,
Harry Kinton. Myron Guymon,
and others. A boat was secured
and attempts made to locate the
body with crap hooks and prods
but it was not until I o'clock the
next morning that the body was
finally recovered by dragging
with long strands of barbed wire.
The body was found at about the
spot where the man went down
III II feet of water, that is to say
the hole in the river at that point
was about II feet deep.
Trimmer was said to be an ex-
cellent swimmer. and in the prime
OF his life. hearty and strong, it
is difficult to account for his
drowning except on the theory
that the cold water must have
brought on cramps or heart fail
ure and he was unable to help
himself in any way after failing
into the hole.
j. r. Frone with whom Trimme