Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-19
REV. M'KNIGHT MOORE'S
FEAR OF FALLS TOOK
HIM DEATH IN RIVER
Not Daring to Shoot Treacher-
GUS Lambertville Falls, Min
lister Relaunched Canoe,
Which Overturned
FAMILIAR WITH DANGERS
With Son Who Accompanied Him on
Fatal Trip He Had Traversed
Delaware Before

Lack of confidence is ascribed by friends
today as the cause of the death Of the
Rev. II. Mcknight Moore who was
drowned in the Delaware River yesterday
when his canoe struck submerged rock
and upset in the Lambertvile Falls.
Doctor Moore took the same trip in the
summer Of 1918, and according to friend
who accompanied him, he did not take
his canoe out OF the water during the
even to avoid the dangerous rapids and
falls in which many canoests had been
drowned during the same season.
Yesterday, according to reports, Doctor
Moore expressed fear about going
through the Wells Falls at Lambertville
and took his canoe out. Together with
his son Harry, who padded in the bow
on the trip, he carried the canoe below
the falls and launched it. The pair set
out for the middle of the stream and it
is thought that the rushing torrent below
the falls caught the light craft up before
the occupants were ready and hurled
them on a rock. Both were thrown into
the water Mr.. Moore coming up in
dazcd condition. He made no effort to
save himself. according to the dispatch,
Before assistance had arrived from other
members OF the party he was torn from
the grasp of his son, who had sought to
save him.
The scene of the drowning was but a
few miles above Trenton. In the other
two canoes which came to the rescue of
Mr. Moore were his other son, James,
and John Fine. Jr, students at the Hav-
erford School; and Harold and james
Fellows, sons of Dr. A. 2. Fellows of
4O06 Chestnut street. The party had
been camping along the route. but had
stayed the night prior to the accident at
a hotel in Lambertville.
Just two years before. Doctor Moore
had shot the rapids and passed through
safely.
This years trip was started at Deposit.
The trip before was started at Hancock,
n Y, which is situated approximately at
the source of the river. on the trip. which
included falls, riffs, rapids eddies and
whiTlpoOls that would tax the skill and
strength of the most expert canoeist, Mr..
Moore several times expressed the fear
of being overturned on account of his
weight. Three times he hesitated about
going on, saving that he would rather
carry the canoe around and launch it be-
low the whirling waters The places that
Doctor Moore expressed his fear of We're
SINNERS Falls, bad stretch of water,
rushing over gigantic rocks; the famous
Foul Rift just above EastOn, in which
four canoeists were drowned that year,
and the Lambertville Falls, in which he
was drowned yesterday. At each of these
places. except the Foul Rift, he was per-
suaded by other members of the party
to shoot the falls
At the Foul Rift that year the party
was warned against passing through.
The other members of the party said they
would go through the falls and Mr., Moore
also consented. Half way through the
torrent Doctor Moore's canoe struck n
rock on the edge of a whirlpool and up
set Doctor Moore and his son, Harry,
kept the craft near the rock, and it was
saved from turning completely over. The
two other canoes turned around in the
whirling torrent, and after a struggle,
Daddled back to the rescue. The canoe
was baied out and the journey was con-
tinued.