Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-04-26
BERT W|NSLOW FALLS
FROM LAUNCH; BROWNS
Being Good Swimmer, Strikes
Out For Shore But Goes
Down

II. R. Winslow of 1155 South Thir-
teenth street of Salem was drowned at
s O'Clock this morning in the William
ette river midway between the old
wagon and Southern Pacific railway
bridge.
He was assisting in running gaso-
line launch between the two landings,
as the regular barge was not in running
order. When half way across the river,
the launch was stopped to answer
questions from the Polk county side,
In starting, the engine refused to start,
and the launch began drifting helpless
down stream. When near the wagon
bridge, as the launch was about to
strike pier, Mr.. Winslow attempted
to push the launch from the pier. In
doing so, he lost his balance, falling
into the river One of the workmen ON
the launch called to him asking if he
could swim. He said he was all right
and struck out for the Polk county
shore. The launch continued to drift,
coming over towards the Marion coun-
ty side. Some one suggested that a
! life preserver be thrown him. There
was some delay in loosening the life
preserver and by the time it was
ready to be thrown, one of the pas
sengers called out that he had gone
down two times.
The current of the river was so
strong that those in the helpless drift
ing launch could do nothing for him
Up to late hour this afternoon the
body had not been found although the
river has been dragged ever since this
morning.
| The big launch "Frolie," which has
been used to tow the barge across, was
disabled last night by the breaking of
casting holding the line shaft. The
I launch was taken from the barge and
/ tied up to the barge of Skinner q Bush
nell. This morning the little launch
Olympic" was used to bring over the
foot passengers.
Winslow and the pilot, one of Captain
Mitchell s men, who had just arrived
from Portland and who was on his first
run, took the launch across, and got
the load, wh'ch consisted of about 2t
passengers. On the return, it took some
time to start the boat, and, according
to one of the passengers, it required
about 90 minutes to get the engine il
operation.
According to the statement Of thu
pilot, when the launch got out in thu
, river and struck the current, the pro
peller was lost and the boat drifteC
helplessly. At first the pilot was un
able to locate the trouble and triet
to find out if the trouble was not witt
The engine. By that time, the launcl
had drifted down the river until it wa
about to strike the middle pier Of tn
inter-county bridge.
Winslow, seeing that crash was in
eyitable, took a pike and went to tn
bow Of the bort, and as it was about t.
strike the pier, pushed it away. TIL
boat veered suddenly 70 the east and h
was thrown headforemost into the waite
on the west side of the pier.
The boat then drifted down stream o.
one side and Winslow on the other sid
Of the pier. The screams Of the VIC
women and the shouts of the men at
, tracted the attention Of Charles Den
nson, who ruLs boat house, and h
sent launch 4fter the drifting boat
He came up with it just before it reach
/, ed the island that at this time is sub
merged. He towed the disabled launc
to the Marion county side where it j
tied up at the foot of Division stree
neal Hunt 5 cannery.
= The pilot in charge of the Olympi
!, was James Davis, of Portland Oregon
! regularly licensed river pilot, VIII
4 told Mitchell that he lost the propelle
I near the west approach on the Pol
k county side and was unable to contrt
I the launch and it drifted in the edd
4 south near the Marion county's Pol
4 county landing until the current caugh
K them and carried them down strean
K where the stern of the Olympic strue
X the pier
X Regarding the statement made ths
X no life preservers were on the boa
!, Mitchell said there were life preserve