The Washington times., 1919-09-07
GIRL ISSNEPT
TO DEATH AT
/ GREAT r FALLS
War Worker, Having Picture
Taken, Slips Off Cliff and
browns.

While hundreds Of persons help
lessIy looked on. Miss Margaret Mar
garetteu, a war worker e=lployed in
the adjutant generals oIfice, was
drowned yesterday afternoon when
swept over the rapids at Great Falls.
Miss Margaretten made a thrilling
and almost successful fight against
the currents before she finally disap-
5peared from view.
= The young woman was standing on
q cliff about 100 yards above the falls
posing for q picture when her foot
slipped from the rock. With q scream
she fell backward over the rocks and
down into the river.
Hundreds of persons on the Vir-
ginia shore gathered at the waters
edge as the young woman battled for
ten minutes against the treachOus
cross currents.
Made Violent EHOFts-
After being carried over the main
falls, the young woman appeared at
the surface, apparently unhurt, and
was seen to be making valiant ef-
forts to reach the shore The current,
however, carried her over the rocks,
her efforts to swim became feeble
and she disappeared in the current.
Miss Margaretten. who was twenty
three years old, and lived at 215 Rock
Creek Church road, went on an OUT
ing to Great Falls yesterday after
noon with Miss Clara Larson, $50 U
street northeast.
II was suggested that the young
woman have her picture taken, and
Miss Margaretten climbed out on q
barge rock at the end Of the swift
current that she might have her pic
lure taken amid picturesque sur
foundings.
In attempting to get back to the
side Of her companion the young
lFoman failed to step squarely on a
FOck. and a moment later was carried
10 her death in the rapids below.
BODY Not Recovered.
Z Police Of the Harbor and Seventh
precincts searched until late last
hight, but were unable to recover the
body. The police have endeavored to
yet into communication with Miss
aGargaretten's parents and with an
hEncle, Dr. Isadore Margaretten, who
LfVes in New York.
Miss Margaretten has resided in
Washington for nearly a year, com
ing here from Los Angeles, Cal.
Capt. Walter Purvis, Z. S. A. on
i6uty in the office Of the director Of
FINANCE in the War Department, was
hINuEeS 10 LlG uEO"u4uEs SdpLdlu
Purvis was standing at the foot Of q
rock just below the whirlpool and
saw the form Of the girl after she had
come over the falls.
Captain Purvis expressed the be-
lief that Miss Margaretten was un-
conscious after being swept over the |
falls, and that the movement Of her
ssFms. which led other witnesses TO |
believe that she was making valiant
efforts 20 swim through the treach- |
srous currents, was due TO the many
cross currents in the swift waters. 6
That Miss Margaretten swan after
being swept over the falls is the be-
1ief Of Miss Larson, however
The police boat and several river
men were on the scene dragging for
the body early this morning, but up
until noon had not recovered it.
Search will be made along the river
IN the various eddies that mark both
sides Of the stream between Little
Fails and Great Falls to see whether
the body has been washed ashore.
Rivermen declared today that the
river is swift for more than a mile
below Great Falls. and there will be
little chance Of recovering the BODY
until il reaches quieter waters near
Washington.