Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-01-19
JOSEPHINE CITIZENS LOSE LIVES
IN ILLINOIS RIVER.
BODIES ARE CARRIED NILES
Death Comes When Bridge on Which
They Stand is Washed
Out.

NJ. NJ. Kohler, prominent farmer
living near Waldo, and William Henry
Lowell, an aged man from Tumwater,
Wash, who was nving with Kohler.
were drowned Friday afternoon in
the Illinois river, in this county.
Kohler was building a private
bridge over the Illinois river and the
two men were standing on this
structure during high water at
tempting to guide drift wood aud
prevent it from injuring the trestle
work, when the structure was sud-
denly carried away.
Kohler's body was found some
miles below minus a pair of gum
boots he had worn. Lovell's body
was also found miles below and was
entirely nude, the clothing having
been stripped off in the raging wa
ters. Around Lovell's neck, how
ever, remained intact string to
which a miniature bag was attached
which contained $11O.
Kohler's watch was found on his
body and 1t had stopped at 2:10
o'clock.
Both bodies were found PROSTATE
on the bank of the stream, the high
waters having subsided, leaving
the victims stranded. Kohler's body
was discovered opposite the T. G.
Burroughs ranch and Lowell was
found near the DAILY ranch.
DR.. F. D. Stricken, as coroner,
went to the scene Sunday and re-
turned Monday morning.
The Kohler farm is located partly
on one side of the river and partly
On the other, and Friday about noon
Kohler and Lowell went to the bridge
to care for it as a result of the swift
ly moving driftwood. After they
had been at the bridge for some time
Kohler returned to the house for an
AK or some tool, so stated his son
and on being asked where Lovel
was, Mr.. Kohler replied that he was
at the bridge. Kohler then return,
ed to the bridge and this was the
last time any member of the family
saw him alive.
At o'clock in the afternoon, Koh-
Ter and Lowell not having returned tc
the home, the family became uneasy
and someone went to the bridge tC
look them up. They were missing.
w. H. Lowell, the aged victim
came to Josephine county about 9
year ago. He leaves a family In
Washington, so it was stated today
His clothing was scattered along the
route of the stream, hanging or
bushes. Besides the money fount
in the little bag tied around his neck
there was a sum in gold in his pock
cts. This was lost.
Mr.. Kohler leaves a wife ant
three grown children, two sons ant
one daughter The daughter is Mrs
Robert Grimmett, who with her hus
band, lives on Sucker creek.
One son lives with the family anC
one In Washington. The son II
Washington has been notified Of hi
fathers death. The family OF Mr.
Lowell, at Tumwater, Wash, has alst
been notified.
Kohler came here several year
ago from Olympia, Wash, and pur
chased the old Brady homestead oil
the Illinois river from Miss Mar.
Brady. The farm consists Of 16,
acres. Mr.. Kohler was a man high
ly respected In Josephine county an
Grants Pass. Il was he who tw,
years ago, for the fair in Grant
Pass, gathered up the splendid eyhibi
OF agricultural products from hi
portion OF the county He was
man Of the highest integrity. an
business men and others Of the cit
deplore the death OF this citizen an
the aged man who died with him.