The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-13
Archie Leclair Barre Tool
Sharpener, Lost Life in
Winooski River
PULMOTOR FAILED
TO BE J ECTIVE
The Young $ an Stopped to
Bathe c .eturn from a
Visit .ast Montpelier

Out Of the stoneshed at 10 a. m on
account of the sweltering heat yester.
day, Archie Leclair, a tool sharpener.
Edgar r. White and Arthur L. Gardens,
employees of the Central Granite Co. ON
Smith street, drove TO East MONTPELIER
TO inspect a building recently erected by
Joseph Martel Returning home, they
stopped near the Tenney Co.'s station
No. 5 for a plunge in the Winooski river
branch and Leclair was drowned in ten
feet of water. His body was recovered
a short time afterward, but more than
an hour elapsed before the remains were
brought to B. ". Hooker & Co.'S under
taking establishment in this city.
The delay was occasioned by the me-
cessity of summoning the health officer
and a selectman from Berlin to view the
body, and pending the arrival of the
authorities, States Attorney F. f. Glea-
son visited the scene of the drowning
and investigated the circumstances sur
rounding the mans death. Health Off
Ger A. G. Norton and S. c. Pike, the
second selectman, after viewing the re-
mains, joined with the states attorney
in describing Leelar's demise as an acci-
dent. Desperate efforts TO resuscitate
the man had been made by Dr. M. D.
Carey and employees of the Tennev COM
pany, who used the pulmotor for nearly
an hour
Companions Of Leclair state that the
drowning occurred around $3.50 O'Clock.
Agreeable to promise made to Mr.. Mar
tel some time ago that they would in
spect his new building in East Mont
pelier at an early date, the three CO.
workers set out in team in the after
noon. Arriving at East Montpelier they
went over the grounds with Mr.. Martel,
spent some time in discussing his bust
ness prospects in that locality, and then
1artook of a hearty dinner, leaving Mar
els premises little after ? o'clock for
he return home. As they neared sta
ion No. 5, it was Leclair, according to
White and Gardens, who suggested that
hey tether the horse and swim. Se-
Getting a likely looking spot near the
lower plant they stripped and were soon
{ the waters edge. Messrs. White and
'ardens state that Leclair waded into
he stream and got a-straddle of log.
carcely moment afterward he rolled
nto the water and disappeared
Neither OF the two men who were
shore is a strong swimmer, and when
eclair fell from the log they tried un-
to reach his body. George
utler, an East Montpelier man, was
rossing the bridge near the swimming
ole, and it was he who discerned the
ody in about ten feet of water. Pro-
lring strong wire, he managed to
lsten it about the body and pull it
shore. BY that time the Tenney COM
any's office in Montpelier had been no.
fed by telephone, and DR. Carey, Clar-
ice Lull and Mr.. Cookson were soon
irrying to station No. 5 in an auto.
hey brought the pulmotor along, and
ie apparatus was applied to Lecair
he lay on the ground near the water
or the better part of an hour the men
orked the pulmotor. but no signs of
'e appeared. States Attorney Glea-
n arriving at the station, questioned
illnesses concerning the accident, and
en- said that the body could be removed
soon al the authorities were notified
Some difficulty was encountered in To-
ting Health Officer Norton and mem
r of the board of seleetmen The
dy was brought to Barre soon after 6
lock. A. j.. Iittel of Beckley hill was
titled of the drowning, and he, in turn,
rried the sad news to Leclars mother,
IS. Alexander Leclair, who lives in that
iehborhood.
The deceased observed his goth birth
Y Tuesday. Besides his mother who
nearly Frustrated by the tragedy, he
YES three brothers He had been an
ploye of the Central Granite Co. for
ne time and was held in high esteem
workers at the company plant. His
her died in 1915.
t is expected that the funeral will be
d in st. Monieas church Saturday
rning at o O'Clock. The parish priest,
=. P. NJ. McKenna, will officiate and
ermeut will be made in the Catholic
letery on Beckley street.