Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-09-03
BODY RECOVERED
NEARSO. PITTSBURG
Floats Eighteen Miles
From Scene of
Drowning.
DISCOVERED BY
THOMAS CHOATE
Thought That it Passed Over
Crest of Dam.

The body of Lewis Coleman, Jr.,
was recovered from the river early
Monday morning about four miles be-
low South Pittsburg. Young Cole
man. 8 tragic death while swimming
at the lock and dam around an excur-
sion boat that carried members of the
Chattanooga Bar Association, their re-
latives and friends, happened Friday
evening about $3.50. Eighteen miles,
by river, from the lock and dam,
where the young man went down, the
body was found.
works ia South Pittsburg, but resides
on an island about four miles distant,
left his landing early Monday to row
to South Pittsburg. He had gone but
short distance no the river when he
detected the body. Sixty hours of ex-
posure made Identification uncertain,
but tue man had heard of the tragic
drowning and surmised the body was
that of the young Chattanooga. He
conveyed the corpse to So. Pittsburg
where later friends made Identification
by means Of signet ring, an heirloom
worn by the young man.
Lewis Coleman, Jr., of Chattanooga,
who was drowned at the lock Friday
evening about $3.50, was son of
Judge Lewis Coleman, of Chattanooga.
He came down on the Chattanooga"
with the Chattanooga Bar Association
which was making the trip to the lock
on its annual outing. Just before ar
irving at the lock young Coleman and
two other young men secured bathing
suits, and started to jump from the
lower deck of the steamer into the wa
tei having made an understanding
with the captain that they we're to be
picked up as soon as the boat came to
a stop at the lock. The engineer saw
the young men about to make the
plunge and warned them that it was
extremely dangerous, but Coleman
and one of the others jumped off while
he was protesting. The engineer seiz-
ed the other Young man and prevented
him from jumping, and pursuaded
him to change his mind. Coleman and
his companion were both expert swim
mers, and the crowds on the steamer
watched them with interest, little
thinking of the tragedy soon to be en-
acted. The Chattanooga came to
stop near the dam, and the friend of
Coleman called to him to get on board
as he supposed the steamer had stopp-
ed for them. AS they came up he no
ticed the steamer beginning to move,
and hastily swimming around the bow
caught hold of rope that he had no.
ticed dangling in the water. He was
struck by the bow of the vessel as he
rounded it, but managed to get out of
the way and swim to the side. Cole
man attempted to follow him. and was
swimming toward the steamer face
down in the water. AS he neared 1t,
the barge which was attached for dan
cling purposes veered and it seemed as
If it caused strong current OF water
for Coleman's body seemed to rise up
lout of the water, and then be dlsap-
peared, head first as if he was diving.
AIN fact it was at first thought that he
had dived under the barge to avoid
contact with it, but be failed to come
to the surface any more.
The news of the drowning was sent
to Chattanooga at once, and the
launch, "The Belle of the Bend, got
in preparation for dragging the river
for the body, leaving Chattanooga at
II O'Clock that night, reaching the
dam about midnight Every conceiv-
sble method of graphing for the body
was used, the searchers risking their
own lives in attempt to get 1t. Search
was continued all day Saturday and
Sunday. Richard Hardy and Silas
Williams we're at the lock and dam
when they received news OF the hnd-
ing of the body and they went at once
to So. Pittsburg in launch from
which rescue work was being conduct
ed. An ambulance and metallic cask-
Of was sent from Chattanooga early I
Monday morning, and in the afternoon
the bodv had reached Chattanooga, and
was taken to the funeral residence of
the sharp company where burial pre- q