The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1918-05-17
Returning From Farm with B. G..
Hardesty browns Near Ranneys
Switch In Drainage Ditch Yester-
day Evening.
BODY NOT RECOVERED DESPIE
CAREFUL SEARCH OF WATER
Had Spent Day with Law Partner
On His Farm Near Dutchtown
-Skiff Hurled Against Pier.

Judge B. +. Davis, one of the n
Missouri, was drowned yesterday ev,
! Ranney's Swith, while returning frC
partner, Benson G. Hardesty, had 81
stock and viewing the damage done [
in view of gang of Frisco workme
the diversion channel at that point. H
careful search by MS companion and
ering the body last night were aband
be made again this morning to recove
The news of the death of Judge
the family by Mr.. Hardesty and spr
gathered at the home of the late ju,l
who collapsed when she learned of
Mr.. Hardesty and Judge Davis left
for the farm near Dutchtown yester-
lay morning. They drove in a wagon,
taking with them a skiff to rescue
what they could, ii necessary. After
spending the day on the farm they
decided to return in the boat on the
small ditch, known as drainage ditch
No and located Immediately north
of the foodway of the Little River
Drainage District.
"The water was calm," said Mr..
Hardesty, in relating the details of
the drowning of his friend and law
partner. "There appeared to be no
danger. so we continued our trip
down the ditch toward the washout
of the Frisco track near Ranney's
Switch.
"The Judge was seated in the front
part of the skiff | occupied the rear
seat. AS we approached Ranney's
Switch we noticed that the current
was getting swifter, but still not
swift enought to alarm anyone who
was familiar with skiff.
"The force of the current was in
creased by the influx of water
through gap il the levee near the
bridge. We left the skiff and walked
around on the bridge and the place
inspecting the work of the railroad
men. We considered this somewhat of
an outing and were not in a hurry
to return home.
"We returned to our boat and de-
cided to float under the bridge. The
stream of water pouring into the
ditch through the gap pushed our
skiff against one of the pier of the
bridge. The skiff was forced into
what appeared whirlpool, and be-
fore we knew what happened the boat
capsized.
We both fell into the water. My
first thought was to rescue my friend
who was about 20 feet in front of me.
Just as l caught sight of the Judge |
! saw him go down, and that was the
last time | laid eyes on him. He did
not reappear another time.
! / jerked my rubber boots off, which
made swimming much eaSer Inf
irushed to the bank. Immediately the
bridge workers came to my rescue
and we began to search the water fol
Judge Davis. We continued our efforts
until dark"
! mother search party will be organ
lied today to continue looking for tht
body.
Judge Davis was born in Delawar'
lin 1885. He was 4 son of Thomas
and Mary Davis, who lived at Mil
ford, Del. He received his first edu
cation at Amherst College in Massa
chusetts and in 1878 was graduate
in the classic course. He then tool
up the study of law at Dover, Del
where he was admitted to the bar il
1882.
, In that year ne came to this cit,
, to practice law. For a short time h
was a professor at the Normal, teach
ing Greek and Latin. He was mem
Der of the Normal faculty for severa