Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-11-29
FOUR DROWNED.


dropped on the table Is II the smoker had
been interrupted in the act OF filing his
pipe.
That the guns, knives, pipe and tobacco
xere left in the camp, was also considered
evidence that the men were not accom-
nanying the officers to Ellsworth. There
gas no boat At the camp.
The conclusion that the four men had
heen drowned was forced upon the
searchers, and rs soon as possible gem
.ral alarm was sent out.
FINDING THE BODIES.
Friday the work Of searching the lake
for bodies was begun. Early in the morn
ing a boat, oars and 4 cap identified as be-
longing TO Clough were found on Black
island. Soon afterward the body OF Dep
uty Sheriff Finn was found about $50 yards
north Of Black island. All day Friday and
we'll into the night willing volunteers
worked in the rain and cold, without fur
Their success.
Saturday the high wind prevented search,
but Sunday 1t was resumed with larger
force. About 10 o'clock Sunday forenoon
the body OF Sheriff Webster was found
about $50 feet from the Black island shore,
and in the early afternoon Clough's body
was found about ssventy-five feet from
the shore.
The body of Colson has not yet been re-
covered, though large crew OF men from
Ellsworth Falls has worked persistently
aver since the accident.
The bodies a. found were taken in
charge by Coroner Harry c. Austin. No
inquests were deemed necessary.
THEORIES.
Just how the men met their death will
never be known. II is believed there were
two boats at the camp, though the second
boat has not been found. 1t is suggested
that it may have been weighted with
rock, and sank when it filled.
The officers doubtless reached Camp
Comfort by way OF the wood-road around
the head OF Northeast cove. Probably
they ate their luncheon at the camp. They
we're anxious a. return home early, and u
short row across the mouth OF the cove to
the Garland shore to save the three mile
tramp around the head OF the cove was
suggested.
The suggestion that the two men at the
camp started to set them across to the
Garland shore, the four men being in one
boat, is not plausible. The boat found is
a fat bottom, straight-sided boat, pointed
at both ends, about eleven feet long and
not more than ten inches deep in fact,
nothing more than double pointed
punt. It was not safe boat for two
men in rough water; men familiar with
opinion that it would not hold up four
men in still water. For four men to
attempt to cross the rough water OF the
mouth OF Northeast cove in such crude
boat in the gale OF wind that was blowing
Wednesday would be nothing less than
suicidal.
1t is inferred, therefore, that there must
have been two boats; thatthe officers bor-
rowed one and started across the cove and
were upset in the rough water; that the
campers went to their assistance in an
other boat, and in attempting to rescue
the officers their own boat was swamped
and all four went down.
BY curious coincidence, and in support
OF TINS theory - the iact tnat ie" Gays
before this accident, two men stopping
with Ciough and Colson at Camp Comfort
while hunting, had narrow escape cross
ing the cove in the same boat described
above. Fortunately they were upset near
enough to shore to obtain foothold.
This accident was witnessed by Clough
and Colsop, no went TO their assistance
in another boat. Was it a prophecy Of the
accident few days later which cost four
men their lives?
The theory that all four men were cross
ing the cove in the same. small boat
officers for the purpose OF making the
shortcut home and the campers to re-
turn to their work on the Garland shore,
where they were cutting the hoop-poles