The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-07-14
John Gordon, Aged 10, Lost
His Life; William
+'iddell Rescued
LATTER WAS SAVED
BY DEAN ROLLINS
George w. Grant Recovered
Gordon's Body, but Efforts
at Resuscitation Failed

John Gordon, the l0-year old son OF
! Mr.. and Mrs. William Gordon, who live
in the Durkee block at 64 North Main
street, lost his life while swimming at
the fork OF the Jail and Stevens branches
this forenoon and double fatality was
ayerted only when young Dean Rollins
dove to the bottom of the swimming
hole and rescued William Riddell The
accident occurred around 9:45 o'clock
and for more than half hour q phys-
clan and men with a pulmotor used
heroic methods in an attempt to resusei.
tate the Gordon boy, who had been pulled
out of the river by George W. Grant, a
bookkeeper employed by the Straitoa
company on South Main street.
On hearing the alarm Mr.. Grant hur-
ried to the river and stopping only to
discard his shoes tnd trousers went intu
the river and recovered the body ON the
bottom of the river and in about dozen
| feet OF water. Gordon had been seen to
sink twice before Mr.. Grant arrived
Probably there were 10 lads. ranging
] IN age from seven to 10 years in the
party of swimmers who went to the
forks soon after Q o'clock OF them all,
Gordon and Riddell appear to have been
the poorest swimmers Indeed it is
doubtful If either could swim more than
q few strokes. Toward the west side
OF the branch the BOYS had anchored
raft and its only occupants were the two
principles in the accident The water is
deep at that point, but Gordon and Rid
dell both believed they could reach the
shore BY taking d long plunge from the
raft Both entered the water at the
same moment Gordon's cry of distress
was the first to be heard and soon it
became evident that Riddell. also, was in
danger. Before any of his young com
rades could reach him, Gordon rose to
the surface twice and sank.
Meanwhile men at the granite shed
nearby were hurrying about in search OF
someone who could swim. At the anne
time young Rollins, himself a rugged
swimmer for one OF his years. struck
ont to the relief Of Riddell. The latter
had already gone below, but Rollins went
TO the bottom and succeeded in getting
a hold on the boy. Once the two reached
the surface, Riddel was able to reach
the shore with Rollins aid. Grant was
already in the water and the first time
he dove to the bottom his search was
futile. The water is unusually muddy,
but on second attempt he succeeded in
locating Gordon. Grant swan to the
west bank of the branch and an alarm
was quickly spread.
Someone telephoned to the office of the
Consolidated Lighting Co. for pulmotor
and others summoned DIR. w. ID. Reid.
Manager c. f. Millar hurried around
Brooklyn street in an auto with Fred
MILAN of Prospect street and the two
we're soon working the pulmotor on the
ad. Chief Sinclair having been notified
If the accident, also assisted in the OPP
ration of the pulmotor. Some difficulty
vas encountered in locating a physician,
lut DIR. Reid was found at last It was
,nly after every effort had been exhaust
d to resuscitate the little fellow that
rope of saving his life was abandoned
Deputy Sheriff H. ]. Slayton. mem
,er of the board of health, gave permis-
ion to remove the body.
News of the accident spread rapidly
nd for a time it was rumored about
he street that several boys had been
rowned. The fact that a large number A
i Youngsters had left for the swimming
oo in the early forenoon probably gave
Use to this rumor.
The three corners" swimming hole
as been a favorite resort for boys OF
very generation in Barre. George Grant,
he man who went to the bottom for
ordon's body, had not been in the wa
ar for nearly four years and on that
ccasion he was called TO rescue someone
rom the water He was not aware that
lch a deep pool existed at that point
nd with other men in that vicinity he
elieves that the spring floods must have
ianelled out the river bed
At the Gordon home this noon the
Dy's mother told of hurrying 10 Brook
m street in the fear that il was her
N for whom lodger at their house
ld been searching in the water. Will
am Ingram. who makes his home with
le Gordons. came back from work and
I'd Mrs Gordon he had been irving t.
vs. lad who got beyond his depth in
le branch Ingram Is a stoneworker
the Straiton company's plant and h.
ent into the water and tried 10 locate
c body before Grants successful search
as ended Until the body was brought
me in an automobile Ingram did not
low that il was the Gordon boy. Mr.
lrdon Is stonecutter employed by
,ss & Ralph. and he was called TO
rookivn street soon after the body was
ought from the water.
Young Gordon was past 10 years old
"a came here with his parents from
lcrdeen. Scotland. He had been a stu
MT at the Church street school. Be
ies the parents brother William.
rvives and there are three sisters. An
belle, katherine and Christina Cor
n.