The Washington herald., 1911-03-26

and being an expert canoeist started out
to the middle Of the river. The part of
the stream where the lad took the canoe
is known as dangerous and he was
warned not to go out too far.
The lad continued to paddle to the
middle of the stream. About one-third
of the way across the river he was
caught in the current and was upset be-
fore he could right his light craft. He
managed to grasp the gunwale OF the
canoe and hold on safely.
McRae, seeing the perilous situation
of his companion, launched a second
canoe and went to his assistance. He
reached Keats just as the latter was
losing his hold from exhaustion, and
managed to bring him to shore Keats,
when his canoe was overturned, lost his
hat, and II was seen floating down the
stream by the four boys standing on the
shore. TN get your hat" shouted Nc
Rae, and at once jumped into a canoe
and pushed from the shore
For a time he made good headway
against the current. and managed to
reach the hat. He leaned forward to
grasp 1t. and before his companions real
lied what had happened the canoe was
overturned and he was struggling fran
tically to keep above water The canoe
was floating upside down in the middle
of the stream.
Current Against Him.
In a moment Keats rushed to the
shore. and pushing his canoe into the
water. padded frantically in an eff
fort to reach McRae. The current was
strong and against him, however, and
after short time Jones and Argo. who
were standing on the shore. saw that
he could not reach the bog struggling
for life in the water.
Argo had already taken OFF his
clothes for plunge in the cold water.
and he was the first to jump overheard
and swim toward McRae. who was seen
to falter with each stroke. He was
followed a few seconds later by Jones,
who dove in the water with all hi-
clothes on. While the two boys stroked
with every nerve and muscle tense to
reach their comrade. Keats, in the
canoe, was still battling with the cur
rent.
Both swimmers reached McRae and
grasped him around the body. A start
was made for shore, and after several
minutes of hard struggle, the trio came
within fifty feet OF their goal At this
time Argo became numb from cold and
was compelled to relinguish his task He
dropped away from his two companions.
1t was seen at a glance that McRae was
chilled through and had no control OF
his muscles. Argo made one last valiant
effort to aid his friends and sroked for
shore How he managed to reach land
he is unable TO tell, but he said last night
that when he recovered consciousness he
was grasping a jagged rock on the bank
He managed to pull himself up. and then
turned to look for his companions.
Both Went Down.
Jones and McRae were locked in each
others arms about forty feet from shore.
The former had his companion by the
hair with one hand and was supporting
him under the back with the other. He
was treading water and making a des-
perate effort to combat the swift cur
rent and gain land. While he watched
them. Argo says. both went down, but
in a few seconds. Again the
struggle for land was resumed by Jones
Just how long it was before they went
down the second time the lad on the
shore was unable to state, but as he
stood and watched the fight for life he
saw both go under again. They came to
stroked for shore.
The weight of the unconscious boy
proved too much in the end. however,
and both went down for the third time
Only one came up-Jones-and half dead
from exhaustion he beat his arms fran
tically on the water in an endeavor to
keep afoat. When his head had passed
beneath the surface Keats, who all the
time had been padding against the cur
rent, trying to reach the two boys, got
to the spot and grasped the sinking lad
by the hair.
After getting Jones safely in the boat
he maneuvered his craft around the
place where McRae had gone down, in
the hope his body would reappear. This
proved futile, however. and he finally
went to shore. In the meantime, Argo.
who stood on the shore and witnessed the
terrible tragedy, ran heedlesSly up the
beach calling for help. About 400 yards
west of the scene he found several men
camping who joined him when they were
told of the drowning and assisted in try
ing to locate the body.
Notify Boys Uncle.
When the realization of the death of
their companion dawned upon the three
boys, they Immediately pro-
cured a rowboat, and Argo being the only
one of the party who had dry clothes.
was piloted across the river to the near
est telephone. He notified Maj. McRae
and then hurried for a car at Little Falls