Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-24
LOCAL LAD WORKING
i'm LEWISTON IS DROWNED
STARTLING CIRCUMSTANCES

" Obt ktJvO O1tuVOU1O S1fvO6O
Onesime Jean of this city, who has
been employed in Lewiston. met his
death by drowning Sunday afternoon
in company with Thomas Demars of
Canada, when the two lads attempted
to change places in canoe on Lake
Auburn. From reports the catastro-
phe happened so quickly that scores
who gathered at the scene of the
drowning but seconds after were un-
able to render aid. On one side of
the canoe was a rowboat containing
three young men; on the other canoe
containing two men. Neither was more
than four feet away. Somebody threw
the drowning men a soft pillow, but
beyond this, according to witnesses,
neither those in the boat nor in the
canoe made the slightest attempt to
save them. The Lewiston Journal
quotation on the sad affair is as fol-
lows:
"Ir was one of the most cowardly
and contemplate things 1 ever saw
in my life" said young woman who
is visiting at the lake; and her dark
eyes flashed as she continued:
a motorboat with my brother. We
| were standing on the slip. and I had
my field glasses-which / usually
carry when / go on the water l
turned these glasses on the spot i'm
mediately 1 heard the cries, and l
could see everything that happened
as plainly as though l had been with
| in few feet.
There was a canoe on one side of
the overturned craft and a~rowboat
on the other. 1t was a stout row.
boat, capable of seating seven or
eight people; and it must have been
equipped with rope, as all Lake Au
burn rowboats are In it were three
young men. One of them threw a pill
low into the water and that is every
thing they did They just sat there.
without moving a muscle, and watched
those poor fellows drown. SO did
| those in the canoe--but there was
more excuse for them, because Il canoe
/ is easily capsiZed. 1t would have
been the easiest thing in the world,
however. to have thrown one end of
the rope TO the drowning men and then
| let them cling to the edge of the row
boat-a very stout one. mind you--
while it was being rowed ashore. AT
LEAST they could have tried.
Il know people often lose their
heads in a swift emergency. but this
wasn't what was the matter with
those boys in the boat. 1t was a case
of coldblooded Indifference They
simply didn't want to help through
fear their boat would be overturned
although there was very little dan
ger. 1t made every nerve in my body
tingle with anger-my very blood boil
When we reached the spot, too
late to be of any help. I tried to
ask those boys some questions. But
they just laughed and shrugged
their shoulders and said they didn't
| speak English. Then they rowed
away-taking a circuitous route
along the shore, SO that those in
other boats, drawn to the scene,
didn't notice them"
| Couldn't you have talked to them
in French" asked the reporter.
/ mot their kind of French" re-
piled the young woman-who, by the
way, speaks several languages
! fiuently.
| Even as it was, the two would
have been rescued had it not been
for a. faulty engine.
Charles Baca, who has been en-
ployed little this summer by Frank
M. Curtis, a well known cottage
owner, was standing on Mr.. Curtis
pier when the cries for help came.
He is a fine swimmer, a remark
able athlete, and Eus been connected
with naval service. Swinging into
the Curtis motor boat, he started it
toward the spot where ripples still
showed upon the bright waters But
| he had gone only a few feet when
the engine went dead Feverishly
he tried to repair it-but the min
utes passed, and when the boat fin
ally started it was too late.
Both of the young men were living
in Lewiston. Jean was employed
there and Demars was endeavoring
| to get work in that city. Onesime