The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-04-06
Mississippi Three Miles South Of Ia.
Grange, No., 40 Scene Of Another
Tragedy When Man Lost
Life There ia Boat.
HARVEY FRENUH, VICTIM
He Started Out Saturday Afternoon to
Light Government Lights Along
River for Opening Of NavL
patIon Season.

LA GRANGE, Mo-. Apr. 6.-Battline
for his life in the storm and the dark.
ness on the river, Saturday night
Harvey French fought a losing fight,
and died in his open boat, of exposure.
On the river that tossed madly about
/; by the STORM, and in the binding,
driving snowstorm, the engine OF dis
little launch evidently stopped, prob
aby because the ignition became short
circuited by the wet snow and the
clouds Of spray. He was unable to get
it started. He ad no oars in the
boat and thereafter-andn no one knows
how long-the boat and it's lone occu-
pant were. at the mercy of the storm
and of the wild river Inky blackness
Of the night came down and French
had no beacon light to even suggest a
course, had he been able to propel the
boat in any given direction. 1t was
his task to light the shore beacons
and he could not do so.
Victim Of Tragedy Crippled.
French was further handicapped.
too, because he lost one leg in an ac-
cident several years ago, and he was
not strong otherwise, either, but some
what frail and never in robust health.
All alone he started out on his mis-
sion of lighting the government lights
south of La Grange. 1t was his first
trip of the year. His orders from the
federal officials were that the lights
should be lighted first on Saturday
evening, as the season of navigation
was open and steamboats, would need
the lights to guide them safely along
the river French started on his trip
Saturday afternoon, and he was never
again seen alive. Yesterday morning
between 10 and II o'clock two search
ers, Messrs. Triplett and Phelps of
La Grange in another launch found
the light-tenders boat aground in
little slough on the Missouri side Of
the river three miles and a half south
of La Grange and not far from the
first government light that French
was to have lighted. The boat was
right side up and seaworthy though
1t had shipped considerable water
from the waves and spray, and the
snow had piled into it. There, with
his head on seatboard, and a rug
over his body. the corpse of French
was found He had been dead some
time. but how long win never be
known. Somewhere out on the black
expanse of wild waters, in the storm
he had given up the hopeless battle
and laid down and died.
Wife Was In Quin6y.
Mrs. French, wife of the unfort,f
nate man, was in Quincy and owing
to the storm stayed over night. Sum
day morning when she returned she
found there was no fire in the home,
no enc had slept in the beds.
This was sufficient evidence that
was wrong. Ed Triplett
and Mr.. Phelps went Immediately in
search, and in a few hours brought
back the sad news that Harvey
French was dead.
Seriously cripped.
Many years ago, while working on
a farm Mr. French fell from a wagon
and as result he lost one of his
legs. This made it stiIl harder for
him to combat the elements which in
their fury rushed upon his Saturday
night. AMHFT.Erench was regarded as
an Industrious, honest man. He was
one Of the employees OF the button
factory, faithful and reliable. Now
that he is gone it may be truly said |
of him, HE hath done what he could. !
The widow and two sons survive
The sons are Alec French who is 10, |
Gated in Muscatine, Iowa, and Roy |
French in California