The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1915-06-05
TWO BOYS DROWN
IN BIG RESERVOIR
HORACE GILL AND JOHN LAMSA
THE UNFORTUNATES-
FAITHFUL DOG

n a well known expressman of
Goldfield, and John Lamsa, the
eight-year-old son of Henry Lamsa,
a miner, were drowned in the big
Consolidated reservoir on the top of
Columbia mountain Saturday after
noon.
In company with several other
boys, they had gone to the reservoir
without the knowledge or permission
of their parents. They had been
fr%equenting the reservoir for several
weeks, although there is a sign
posted there warning all to stay out
of the reservoir under penalty of
prosecution. In addition to the
sign, the tank is enclosed by a wire
fence, through which the boys fore
ed their way. A raft, consisting of
gether, had been constructed some
time age, and on this the boys pad
died about the water, the depth of
which is thirteen feet.
The oldest boys in the party,
ranging in age from IA to 10 years,
got upon the raft after divesting
themselves of their clothing, told
the smaller boys to keep off and en-
joyed themselves for some time.
splashing about the water while
holding onto their raft. Tired of
their sport, they pushed the raft to
the bank and told the smaller lads
hat they were going farther up on
Tho roonntntn fn nipE A0uyorC nn1
again cautioned them to stay away
from the reservoir. When the older
lads had disappeared around the side
of the mountain the smaller boys,
led by young Gill and Lamsa, imme-
diately made ready for a ride on
the raft. Besides the two unfOrtu-
nate boys the smaller lads included
Leo ~Shemanski, son of the jeweler;
Tom Saunders and Homer Dickson,
all under ten years of age. The
Gill lad and Lamsa undressed first
and started to launch the raft. AS
it slipped into the water Gill jump
ed for it, as he had seen the older
boys do, missed it and went under.
His companion realized what had
happened and al to the other side,
where he caught the raft, got on it
in an instant and pushed over to the
struggling boy i'm the water. To
reach Gill he crowded over on the
edge, lost his balance and fell into
the water.
At this juncture Tom Saunders
came up, and, being unable to offer
aid himself, as he would have been
as helpless in the water as the 9th
err lads, set up a cry for help. The
cry was heard by James Cheek, son
of Lon Cheek, an employe of the
Consolidated, and James Fortune.
Both lads, who had left in quest of
flowers, rushed back to the scene of
the tragedy. Cheek Immediately div
ed into the water in the direction OF
Lamsa, Gill having already disap-
peared beneath the surface. While
not a strong swimmer Cheek man
aged to secure a grip on Lamsa's
hair, the only thing visible. Lamsa
struggled violently with his would-be
escuer and so hindered Cheek that
he was unable to make any progress.
They both went under and in some
manner Cheek managed to shake
himself loose from the drowning
lad and pull for the bank. Had
Lamsa's grip not loosened there
would undoubtedly have been three
~heartbroken families today instead
of two. He reached the bank and
was helped out by the other boys
in an exhausted condition.
The other boys on the mountain
had gathered by this time, and one
of their number, Frank Little, ran
to the mill, about half a mile away,
and told Joe Henderson of the mill
force what had happened. Two
others, Leo Shemanski and Homer
Dickson. hurried to Barlow's store
in Columbia, repeating the story
mere. Mr.. Henderson phoned i'm
mediately to Deputy Sheriff Bogard,
asking him to get a doctor and hur-
ry out. The latter met DR.. Turner
in the postoffice and in the doctors
automobiIa they rushed for the
scene of the accident. When they
arrived there they found K. M.
Simpson. assistant general manager
of the Consolidated Mines company,
and an employee of the mill attempt
ing to bring the boys to the surface
by diving. Another party of men,,
headed by Jack Brown, arrived from
the mill equipped with graphing
hooks, an dragging the reservoir
with these they brought young Gill's
body to the surface. He had been in
the tank for an hour and could not
be resusicated, although a lung mo-
tor, taken to the scene by A. Fl,
Howe and DR.. Baker, was brought
into use. Lamsa's body was brought
up by Jack Brown an hour later.
One of the most touching incidents
in connection with the tragedy was