Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1921-01-26
POLICE TRIED HARD
TO SAVE INJURED MAN
Carried From Farnhurst Marsh
John w: Ruth, Accident
ally Shot.

Their clothes soaking wet and frozen
stiff and their hands numb with cold. two
police officer, struggled three hours last
evening n a vain effort to bring wounded
man from tho marshes on the south side
of the Christians river, near Farnhurst, to
the city i n time 10 save his life.
John w. Ruth. the man who was ncci-
IDENTITY shot by comrade while on hunt
inc trip. however, died shortly after the
notice officers had reached him and rem
dcrcd first aid According TO the story told
by James Flood, his companion, thcy were
walking up a slight grade in the marshes
when the trigger o. his, Flood S gun caught
in n twig and the gun was discharged
I'm shot" shrieked Ruth, he sank to the
ground, with the contents of the shell In
his abdomen. Flood said he attempted u
carry Ruth. but rs the latter WAS much
larger than he, he was forced TO abandon
that idea of aiding his comrade. Flood
finally placed the Wounded man down On
dry piece of ground and wrapped his
overcoat and sweater around him, gave
him a piece of chocolate and made him
as comfortable ~ possible. He then made
his WAY TO the z. ]. tower of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad and summoned the Police
wApp THROUGH MARSH.
Officers William II. Hunter and Joseph
Cr,lssemeyer drove the patrol car to the
y J. tower and started on their journey to
rescue the wounded man, about u o'clock.
The officers made their why 70 the Christi
ana river and crossed in an old ilat-bottom
boat AS they proceeded 20 the Scene
of the accident they were forced to wade
through water several feet deep. Tramp
ing about the marshes, uncertain as 70
Al IL h~v finn llt,
saw faint light from n fire he had built
from small sticks and bits of marshes
urass which he was able tn reach in spite
~ his crippled condition, When the officer
arrived Ruth was still conscious and
rathetically asked: Are YOU going 70
take me back to save nv lief" Though
their clothes were now ice covered and
their hands and feet numb, the officers did
not stop 60 warm themselves AT the fire,
but placed The man on the gtrptcher and
started on the return.
As they carried hun on the etretcher
Ruth generated Flood of all blame and
said the shooting was accidental. The
party proceeded about half an hour when
the wounded man lapsed into uncon-
seriousness and expired before Christiana
was reached. At the river new difficulties
beset the rnscue party. The rising tide
bad brought in large quantity Of Ice and
under such conditions the flat kottomed
boat was almost unmanageable. About
tlre1middle Of the srteam one of the oerp
broke and the men were forced to let the
host drift with the tide. managing 20
-.fIest landing At a point a considerable
distance below where they had crossed
the first time.
The policemen had now been out over
two hours and the bitter cold wind and
the heavy burden had taxed their strength
until they were only able 10 proceed a
short distance at a time Officer Hunter
sustained a sprained tendon Of the right
hand and as Ruth had expired by this
time they were forced to leave the body
on the etretcher and struggle back to the
tower in time TO save themselves. |. was
Q o'clock when they finally came TO the
tower in an exhausted condition, three
hours after they had started out 10 effect
Tho rescue
The coroner was notified and the body
taken in charge by Deputy Coroner
Nichols Coroner Bullock will hold an in
quest tomorrow night Flood Was released
today on 81 900 bail pending the result Of
tho inquest Ruth is % years old, single
and for the last ten years has boarded al
the home of John G Rsuehley. Ala West
Thirtv-seeond street He was employed
as conductor on the city trolley lines
Flood, also trolleyman, IS married and
has two children.