The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-04-23
ONE MAN KILLED WHEN
BOAT SWEPT OVER DAM
Anderson Daily Mail.


killed this morning when a flat boat
in which he and Mr.. E. G. Partain
were riding, was swept over the dam
at Gregg Shoals. Mr.. Partain escaped
death by nothing less than a miracle
and when the Daily Mail got into
communication with the Gregg
Shoals plant, Mr.. Partain was COM
paratively safe, being perched upon
the top of a small rock in the middle
of the river, the attendants at the
power station making vain efforts to
get rope to him.
The accident was a terrible one,
the boat being wrenched from the
control of the two men while they
were crossing the pond, and swept
over the dam into a maelstrom be-
low The fact that Mr.. Partain es-
capped death is miraculous.
Crossed to Vote
The men, both Of whom were en-
ployed by the power company had
crossed the river, Mr.. Conwell cross
ing to vote in the preferential prim-
airy election held yesterday in Geor-
gia. Mr.. Conwell lived on the Georgia
side of the river and was a bachelor.
He was 40 years old and had been in
the employ of the company for sew
eral years. He was employed as an
Outside" man at the Gregg Shoals
station.
The two spent the night on the
Georgia side at Mr.. Conwell's home
and were coming back to work this
morning shortly before seven o'clock
when the boat was sunk. They cross
ed the river yesterday afternoon
when the water was normal, but
heavy rains during the night caused 3
rise of some 8 1-2 feet during the
night and it was this high water,
coupled with the swift current which
caused them to lose control Of the
boat.
Was Fight For Life
Shortly after leaving the Georgia
bank of the river, the boat was
caught in the current of the river and
in few; seconds was beyond control
of the men. With paddles and long
sweeps, they fought deperately
against the swift current, fighting to
keep their boat from coming closer
to the overflow of the dam. The men
continued to fight against the current
until their boat was almost at the dam
when it was caught by the suction
caused by the overflow and swept
over the top of the dam with light
ning-ike speed.
A Real Maelstrom
Below the dam, the water dashes
against the rocks which form Gregg
Shoals. These rocks are great bould-
ers typical rapids or shoals of the
Savannah river in the up country.
The dam itself is only about eight to
ten feet high and ordinarily the wa
ter does not cover the rocks. The
nigh water, however, sweeping over
the dam created piece of treach-
erous stream in which no man could
cope with such current and the great
rocks, with their ragged points and
edges made the river even a greater
death trap.
Body Never Seen
After the boat went over the dam,
nothing was ever seen of the body of
Mr.. Conwell. 1t was probably swept
down stream with. the water and the
remains of the flat boat. Mr.. Conwell
was most likely not drowned, but was
killed by being dashed against the
rocks.
A Miraculous Escape
Mr.. Partain is a middle aged man
and is married and lives on the
South Carolina side of the river; How
,1Ya sseapedts asa3h4 4'when.:se flat!tssE
its plunge will probably never be
known, for he doubtless had no time
to think of,whatt i Wssas happening las
the bat rushed over the edge of the
dam. He was found by employees at
the plant sitting on rock out in the
etrooro ua cn,,1d cpeol and The mon