The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-08-01
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR.
BEN ANDERSON WILL BE.
!. HELD Z 0 CLOCK MONDAY
AFTERNOON At HOME Of.
OR. ANDERSON AT MIL 0.

Funeral services for Ben Amerson,
who was drowned Thursday night in
Eaves Lake, near Poolevie, will be
held Monday afternoon at Q O'Clock
at the home Of DR.. w. G.. Amerson,
ut Milo. The services will be con
Quoted by Rev. r l.. Jackson of
Broadway Methodist church, this city
Deceased was "a years old. Today,
one year ago, he landed in New York
City from two years service overseas
with the American expeditonary
forces. In November. 1917, young
Amerson enlisted in the service with
the Fifth Regiment Marines, going
overseas shortly after and taking part
In all Of the major battles in which
the 5th and 9Th Marines were engag-
ed, including Chateau Therry,, Bel
leau Wood. st. Mihiel and Argonne
Forest. He was awarded the CroiX
de Guerre and received two citations
for bravery.
After the signing of the armistlce
he went with the army of occupation
into Germany and did not . return to
the United States until August l. 1919,
reaching New York City on that date
He came directly to Ardmore and
then went to Milo to visit his broth
ers. 1t was there he met Miss Ezella
Johnson, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
}. w. Johnson, and in February they
We're married. The young man was
devout church member having
Joined the Baptist church at Chatta-
ing the service.
The circumstances surrounding the
death ON the young man are par
ticularly sad, and the tragedy has
cast gloom throughout Carter
county.
Accompanied by their two sisters,
Mrs. Leimen Stall of Chattanooga
Tenn, and Mrs. Give Folger of Pen
dleton, South Carolina, and cousin,
VIII Amcrson of Cherokee, Ala, who
had arrived in Milo just a few days
ago to spend the remainder of the
summer, the three brothers. DR.. G..
w. Amerson and the deceased, Ben
Amerson, and their families and Miss
Ozel Parker Of this city, who is
principal of the Milo schools, had
gone TO Eaves Lake on camping
trip, the trip having been planned
for the visiting relatives.
Shortly after supper Thursday night
the party went in swimming, with the
exception of Ben Amerson and his
cousin, Will Amerson, who went
across the lake TO fish. The young
wife. seeing the light from her
husbands lantern, stated that she
would swim to him. When about
half way across the lake she called
&c her husband for help. She had
become exhausted, had gone down
and when she came up called again.
Mr.. Amerson answered her, telling
ker to be brave and that he was
eNning and plunged into the lake
Without removing his clothing. Reach
ing her he twice lifted her from
the water enough that she might
breathe and as the cousin arrived
S,ne husband released his hold and
She was carried to the shore by the
cousin. both thinking Ben was fol
lowing. Dr. Amerson and Henry
Amerson swan to the scene from the
west side of the lake and became
exhausted and but for the presence
of mind Of the Doctors wife and Miss
Parker, Doctor Amerson would have
lost his life. Henry Amerson also
was sinking when VIII, who had al
ready saved one and had returned to
help Ben, grasped him and towed him
to shore. The wife of the deceased
had just expressed her joy that they
were all safe when it was discovered
that the husband was not there and
then they realized that he must have
been seized with cramps when he
released his hold on his wife. She
ter, but was held back by her sister,
Elba johnson, as others of the party
realized that he could not be saved.
The cousin, VIII Amerson, who
had saved the wife and Henry Amer.
son went to Pooleville, q distance of
three and a half miles, for help. Citi-
lens Of Pooleville, Fox, Graham, and
Milo worked all night in an effort to
locate the body, while the women of
the community did what they could
to assist. They served hot coffee
through the long aours and cooked
breakfast for the men. At 10 o'clock
Friday morning the body was found.
The position Of the arms indicated
that the cramps had affected that part
OF the body. DR.. Walter Hardy OF
this city was called, in the hope that
the body would be recovered in time
to save him. The wife is Frustrated
with grief and her condition is criti-
cal.
Many Ardmore friends will attend
tho funeral. A brother, r. W. Amer
son of Chattanooga. arrived here
last night. A sister, who also lives
there, was so grief stricken, she was