The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-07-20
Body Terribly Bruised ReCov-
cred Six Hours Later
At Point Two Miles From
Scene Of Drowning

marry MOnleT OIL SOuIu vernon uleI
death Thursday afternoon at $3.50
o'clock while attempting to ford a
small stream, branch of Dry creek,
three miles southwest Of the city in
Clinton township, and near the farm
belonging to Philip Halfrey. The wa
ters of the stream had swelled to such
height that the wagon and two
horses which Mohler was driving lost
footing and were swept down the
stream. One horse was rescued, the
other drowned. The body of Mohler
was found nearly six hours after the
drowning at spot nearly two miles
from the scene, near the residence of
Henry Allen. The body had been
stripped of clothing and was so badly
SCARED and bruised that it was
scarcely recognizable. Mohler leaves
wife and three children. His home
was on Parrott street in South Ver-
non.
In company with Harry Nixon, Mob.
iSi Ailu uliNCh dlISl "
the home of Philip Halfrey on the
Pleasant Valley road, about one mile
west of the Columbus road. Their
mission was to procure several sheep
for the D. G. Nixon meat shop of
which they are employees. Their
course to the Halfrey farm led them
across the small stream which was to
prove so fatal to Mohler later, but at
that time it was an easy matter to
ford the run. This they did and pro-
ceeded to the Halfrey farm, which is
near by.
At $3.50 o'clock the sheep had been
secured and both men were in readi-
ness for the return trip to the city.
The heavy rain of Thursday afternoon
had swelled the run to a considerable
height and Nixon was not in favor of
attempting the ford 1t was also the
advice of those on the Halfrey farm
that no ford be made. For half
hour, Nixon and Mohler stood on the
bank of the run and debated the ad-
visibility of attempting to cross. Nix
on stood firm against such an action,
while Mohler was determined that no
harm could result and stated that he
was going ahead. Nixon fatty refus-
ed to accompany him.
No sooner had the middle Of the
now swift stream been reached than
the horses were swept off their feet
and Mohler was in desperate
plight. He clung to the reins in an
endeavor to hold up the horses and
control them, but when wire fence
running across the stream at point
by the barn belonging to Orea Fuller
was reached, the wagon lodged and
the horses and Mehler swept on.
Further down the stream and a few
yards from the wire fence there is a
gas pipe by which the Fuller home is
supplied. When the horses and Moh-
Ter struck this, one of the animals
lodged and was rescued, while the
other one and Mohler proceeded on
down.
Evidently the gas pipe had struck
Mohler in such a manner that he was
not only injured but probably stunned
as members Of the Fuller family and
S. B. Tarr of this city, who was do
ing some work on the Fuller home
state that the water was only up to
his shoulders and that he seemed to
stand erect in the stream, although
his head was bent over and the upper
part of his body was ahead of the low
er portion. He was in this position
when the Fuller home was passed
Mr.. Tarr had procured piece of rope
and attempted to throw it to Mohler
but by the time he had pushed aside
the heavy growth Of willows on The
bank Of the stream Mohler had pass