The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-07-05
Ruth Monica O'Herin,
Spaulding 1920, Lost Life
at Joe's Pond
GIRLS WENT OUT
BEYOND DEPTH
They Were Members of
Camping Party from
Barre

A holiday camping party of four
young women of Barre came to sudden
and sad ending Saturday evening about
30 minutes after their arrival at Joe s
pond, when Miss Ruth Monica O'Herin
OF 0 Eastern avenue, stenographer at
the Barre garage, was drowned in about
eight feet of water, near the Lakeside
farm, where the party planned to
spend the Fourth. But for the quick ac-
tions of w. c. Mattox of Jamaica
Plain, Mass, who happened to be on a
raft not more than 20 feet away, and
a Mr.. Laughton of St Johnsbury, who
likewise responded to the shrieks for
help with his boat, the tragedy might
have been even worse. The Others in
the party were Miss Mildred 0'Herin,
sister of the drowned girl, Miss
Frances Nelson and Miss Mildred Fitz-
gerald.
The young women had gone by auto
mobile to the pond, two of them alight-
ing on the opposite side TO hire canoe
These two. Miss Nelson and Miss Mil
dred O'Herin, procured the canoe and
rowed across the pond. In the mean
time Miss Monica 0'Herin and Miss
Fitzgerald proceeded to their camping
place and donned their bathing clothes.
While awaiting the arrival of the canoe
the two bathers waded out to the raft
and diving ladders, and on the arrival
OF the two in the canoe left the water.
Then the four entered the water to-
gether, intending to wade ont to the
raft, which as they supposed was ac.
cessible from any point along the shore
They entered the water AT different
point than that from which the first
two bathers had gone and all four
stepped off into a deep hole None of
the young ladies was swimmer.
though one or two could make a stroke
OF two. Mr. Mattox. who was diving off
the raft, at first believed their shrieks
to be merely merriment. but at the crv
of help he hurried to their assistance.
and MIR. Laughton simultaneously
started with his rowboat.
At the command of Mr. Mattox one
grasped his body and the other two
formed human chain with the first
he swan in shore BY the assistance of
Mr. Laughton, the three girls were
taken from the water, quite excited
at their adventure and il was not unit |
the excitement had subsidized little |
that they missed Miss Monica O'Herin. |
Messrs. Mattoxt or Laughton had not |
known that there was a fourth mem !
Der of the party until then, and imme- I
1iately Mr. Mattox dove for the body. !,
by the darkness. Mr.. |
Mattox was compelled to abandon the !
task after diving several times, and Il
was not until graphing irons. were
used that the body was recovered
about 20 minutes afterwards.
DR.. c. A Champion of St Johnsbury,
who happened to be at his cottage
nearby, was upon the scene when the
,ody was recovered and used artificial
aspiration until the arrival of the pull
motor which was brought from ST.
lohnsbury, a distance of nine miles. in
3 minutes by ST. Johnsbury fremen
rhe physician used the pulmotor for
more than an hour, but life was ex
met.
The three young ladies, heart bro
zen by the accident, returned 10 this
ity and the body Of their companion
vas brought to the home Of her grand
mother. Mrs. Mary Conway. at -
;outh Main street.
This morning At the funeral services
u ST. Nlonica's church hardly a seat {
emRined untitled for the victim Of 4
his sad event was an extremely pop {
lar young lady. A requiem high mass
vas celebrated by Rev. p. NJ. McKenna,
astor Of the parish. with the assist
nee of Mrs. Charles Smith in the choir 5
nd Miss Lorraine Loranger. organist {
The remains were borne 10 the Cath
lie cemetery on Beckley street under a q
iass Of beautiful flowers by six young '
zen, Allan Johnston. George Bartlett. {
amcs Young. 0reste Gianni, William I
oyce aud Charles Beck u
Miss Ruth Monica 0'Herin was born
, Mr.. and Mrs. Robert OHerin in
May p. 1901. She attend a
the grammar school in Websterville n
nd entered Spaulding high school in I
lis city. where for four years she fig y
red prominently in the girls basket ;
all team, WAS president OF her p"
ass in her junior year and treasurer ?
the athletic committee in the year. ],
l20, when she graduated Miss OHerin J.
as also one Of the group Of young Ia =
es who have the distinction Of he
nging TO the Senior Sodality of St.
onicss church. membership Of which
decided honor in the Catholic
urch
Her mother died l6 years ago. but u
II father survives and resides in Val f
10. Cal. She is also survived bv her q
sndr>ather. Mrs. Conway. with whom O
e made her home during high school: y
10 aunts. Misses Theresa and Nellie
,nwsy of this city, and two sisters a,
ID a brother. Cecilia. Mildred aud
surice Of this city M
Her death Is the second drowning in n,
2 Spaulding class ~ 1920 within 4,
10 weeks the other victim being 4,
into Msluati. who lost his life al
qua. o. on June y under conditions
mewhat similar
y