Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-08
LOST LIFE SKATING
Ruth Birch, Il, Drowned in Con.
necticut River Sunday
Thin Ice Broke Beneath Children
Difficult Rescue Work.

Joseph lemere Saved from Similar Fate
Thin Ice Broke Beneath Children
Difficult Rescue Work.
Skating on thin ice cost the life Of
Ruth Idela Birch, H. Sunday afternoon
about o'clock and only by narrow
margin was Joseph Lemere, 10, saved
from a similar fate, while two other per-
sons took icy baths in attempting to
save the children. The accident happen
cd In the Little river branch of the Con-
necticut, east of the old red barn on the
island, and although several men and
boys were in that locality at the time
several minutes elapsed before plans for
rescue could be formulated and by that
time the Birch girl had sunk below the
surface and when the body was recov-
cred about 25 minutes later, efforts at
resuscitation were unavailing.
Two weeks ago the children who live
on the island began playing on the ice
and despite the fact that they had been
driven off several times, they persisted.
About 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon Ruth
Birch, who had on skates, with her
brother, Norman, about seven years old,
and Joseph Lemere, 10, went on the ice.
The two boys were without skates ana
amused themselves by sliding. Near the
shore the ice was thick enough to hold
them, but Ruth and Joseph gradually
worked their way out where 1t was
thinner. When about 100 feet from shore
the ice suddenly gave way and the chill
dren were thrown into the water. They
uttered no cutlery and it probably was
about a minute before Charles Cakes,
George Cakes and Ralph Cakes, who
we're taking in the floats used at their
landing last summer, noticed the chill
dren struggling in the water Ruth was
farthest from shore and after holding on
TO the ice a few moments went down,
arose to the surface and went down
again. She did not come to the surface
a second time. The Lemere boy chung
to a plank that was frozen in the ice.
Norman Birch ran to the Birch home,
about 200 feet away, and told his broth
ers and sisters that the children had fall
len in and they hurried to the shore.
Harold Cakes started out on the ice to
rescue the children, as did Raymond,
Albert and Elmer Birch. Albert fell In
to the water and was assisted out by
Harold Cakes. The latter had a rope
and had proceeded about IS feet out upon
the ice when he threw it, AS he did so
the ice era cked beneath him. then broke
and let him into the river. BY resting
his elbows on the ice he kept his head
and shoulders above water and was
pulled back upon thick ice by George
Cakes and Elmer Birch.
1t was not possible to reach the chill
dren by walking on the ice and Charles
y
from his home beyond the covered
bridge, ran to the river, chopped loose a
boat that was frozen in the ice. and he
and Alonzo Frazer started after the
children. BY standing in the stern of the
boat and then forcing the bow down. a
channel was broke through the ice to the
open water and about 20 minutes from the
time the Lemere boy fell into the river he
was pulled into the boat. He was carried
TO his home near the pavilion on the island,
where he was cared for by Dr. c. r. Al
drich and DR.. Thomas Rice. About 10
minutes later Ruth's father John NJ.
Birch, who was in the boat recovered
his daughters body in about 10 feet of
water. DR.. Henry Tucker had arrived
by the time the body was recovered and
although efforts were made to resuscitate
the girl they were not successful.
Mrs. Birch, the child's mother, was
visiting relatives in Vineland, n. j., and
was notified by telegraph of the accident.
This was the first time in IS years that
she had been away from her family and
on receiving the news started Immediate
ly for Bratleboro The train was 80 min
utes late Monday night into Springfield
and the train which arrives here at 10 %
p. m, had left the station. She told the
conductor of the train of the sudden
death of her daughter and within few
minutes a special train consisting of an
engine and a passenger coach was made
up at Springfield, the authorities ordered
the line cleared, and orders were given
the Montreal express to wait in Green
field until the special arrived there. The
train with Mrs. Birch as the sole passen-
ger made fast time into Greenfield,
where Mrs. Birch was transferred the
express
Ruth Idella Birch, II, was born in Put
ney Sept. 3, 1900, and was a daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs, John NJ. Birch. About one
year after her birth her parents moved to
Brattleboro and she attended the public
schools here, being in the sixth grade in
the Main street building at the time OF
her death. Besides her parents she leaves
four sisters, Edith. Ina, Olive and Mil
drcd. and five brothers, Raymond, Clar-
ence, Elmer, Albert and Norman.
The funeral was held Tuesday after
noon in the home on the island, Rev. F
A. Wells of the Methodist church officiat-
Ing. There was a profusion of flowers
from the chld's schoolmates and from
the various orders of which Mr.. Birch is
a member. The bearers We're Raymond
Birch and Clarence Birch, brothers
George Birch, her grandfather and S. NJ
Yeaw. The burial took place in Pros.
poet Hill cemetery
Joseph Lemere has been confined to his
home since the accident and refuses tC
be left alone. He is able to sit up, but
the nervous shock greatly upset him.