The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1914-04-17
LAKE TRADGEY
Earl Mustard Drowned Cross
ing Mouth of Sinlahekin
Creek on Horseback

Earl Mustard, the eldest son of MI
and Mrs. Henry Mustard, old and
hlghly esteemed residents OF the
Loomis neighborhood, was accidentally
drowned in Palmer lake, at q pOin,
where Sinlahekln creek empties int
the lake, last Friday afternoon. A. w
boyd, superintendent OF the lvenhoe
mlne, who took an active part in the
recovery OF the body OF the unfOrtun-
ate lad, was in town Monday and gives
the following particulars Of the sad
tragedy: FRIDAY last Mr.. Boyd and
others were waiting on the east side
OF falmer lake tor a boat that they
expected to come across from the
Green ranch, which Is on the west
side OF the lake. There seemed to be
an unnecessary delay in the arrival
OF the boat and young Mustard was
either requested, or volunteered, tO
rue around the lake to the Green
homestead and inform Green that the
boat was wanted. Mustard secured a
morse at Dan Mulcaheys nome, and
crossed the Sinlahekln creek at the
Evans ranch in order to inquire as to
the trail, which is a narrow and rough
one, around the west side of the lake
securing the required information he
rode on to the Green place, delivering
lis message and started back. That
was the last time he was seen alive
reward evening the horse was found
III the road near the south end OF the
lake by persons passir by. The fact
that the saddle was wet and the boy
missing created much apprehension
as the horse was known to be frac-
tiOus at times. Mr.. Boyd and num-
Der OF his crew from the mine started
at once investigating, and by foot
prints on the west side Of the creek
round that young Mustard when re-
turning had started to ford the Sin
iahekin where the creek empties into
the lake. The horses tracks were to
DC seen entering the creek on the
west side, but no sign Of the animal
could be found leaving the water on
the east side. That the boy had met
death by drowning was the conclusion
reached at once, and graphing hooks
and ropes were procured and the lake
and creek carefully dragged. The
boat coming to the assistance of the
searchers the hat of the missing lad
was found floating in the lake, near
the south end. The hat floated top
up, and there was sand adhering to
one side of the hat, but none on the
inside. 1t was evident that he had
fallen off the horse and struck the
sand before getting into the water.
This confirmed the suspicion Of
drowning, and the search was kept up
all night. Saturday q number of citi-
zens of Loomis joined the miners, the
crowd working steadily all day to re-
cover the remains. Late Saturday
evening the body was at last grappled
where the water was some 80 feet
deep. Upon examination it was dis
covered that the left side Of the face
was considerably bruised, as from q
blow or fall. The theory of the &C.
cident advanced is that when the horse
was urged to enter the water he threw
up his head suddenly, bad fault the
animal has, striking young Mustard
so violently upon the side Of the face
as to knock him out of the saddle un-
conscious. His foot hanging in the
stirrup frightened the horse, which
started swimming out into the lake
and around a fence built out in the
water. After getting into deep water
the foot became detached from the
stirrup, the body sinking.
The accident cast a gloom over the
mining camp, where the deceased had
worked for some time, and is deeply
deplored in Loomis and the surround
ing country where the boy was SO well
known. Earl Mustard was between II
and Is years of age. He grew up from
babyhood on Palmer mountain, and
was we'll known to all of the residents
in and about Loomis. He was bright
promising, likable and popular young
man, and his loss Is severe blow tc
the parents. The funeral was ir
charge of the miners employed at the
Ivanhoe mine, with whom he worked
and among whom he was a great
favorite. They made all the arrange.
ments and paid all the expenses. In.
terment took place in the LOOMS
cemetery Sunday afternoon, and the
remains were followed to their last
resting place by a large concourse ol
sorrowing neighbors and friends.