The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-08-03
TWO PEOPLE DROWN.
In CANAL AT ROSE.
Brother and Sister
Meet Death
Together

Blanchard Ashton and his sister
Georgia Ashton of Salt Lake City,
who was visiting him, were drowned
in the American Falls canal near the
headgate on Monday evening at
about 6 o'clock. They were accus-
toned to bathing in the canal and on
this occasion Miss Ashton went into
the water first and was being swept
down stream and called for help.
The brother went to her aid but
could not get her to shore. Their
dog went in and tried to help them,
and altho Mr.. Ashton got within
reach of the bank, he could not get
hold of anything, 1t being smooth
and slippery and he was barely able
to reach it in their struggles. Their
cries for help attracted others, and
their mother and sister witnessed
part of the struggle. 1t seems that
Miss Ashton became so frightened
that she clasped her brother in her
arms so tightly that he was unable
to swim and when they were last
seen they were clasped in each
others arms and being rolled over
and over by the current of the
water.
This happened near their home
which is less than mile below the
headgate. The average depth of the
canal is about five feet, but it is said
to have been eight or nine feet at
the swimming hole. The canal is
about sixty or seventy feet wide on
top, and was carrying $4,000 inches
of water, or 1880 secOnd-feet. The
velocity of the stream was about
four miles an hour, and men at
tempting to wade thru it are swept
off their feet. The water was shut
out Of the canal in about two hours
after the drowning, and woven wire
netting was drawn across the canal
at some of the bridges.
At 10 O'Clock in the evening, Mr..
Ashton's body was found lodged at
a bridge two miles below the SWIM
ming hole and Miss Ashton's body
was found Tuesday morning at 7.3O,
lodged on the bridge north of More
land, eleven miles below the swim
ming hole.
When the bodies had been in the
water nearly two hours, phone
message was relayed thru the Morei
land office to the watermaster, l.. G.
Walker at Aberdeen, asking that the
headgates be closed on account of a
drowning, and the request was held
up quarter of an hour pending
definite information. Mr.. Walker
had received similar request from
Thomas a week or so before and on
demanding to- know definitely re-
garding the tragedy, he was in
formed that woman had disap-
peared and that they were satisfied
she was in the canal. He declined
to close the gates until they knew
for certain, for the flow Of the
stream was valued at 5000 an hour
and an interruption of the stream
on mere suspicion would hardly be
approved by the irrigators. In that
case the missing woman was found
at neighbor's house safe and well.
Watermaster Walker says that in
case of a drowning and necessity for
shutting off the water, definite in
formation should be sent to him at
Aberdeen and to j. E. Beebe at the
headgate, and if possible by some
we'll known person who can vouch
for the facts, or If that Is not pare
tical at the time, have it confirmed
as soon as possible by somebody in
authority. In this case, confirma-
tion of the first report was made by
, Bishop J. s. Gardner in about fifteen
minutes and the gates were closed.
Another thing that should be at
tended to in case of drowning, is to
telephone the city hall at Blackfoot
and have the attendant at the fire
station informed as to where to send
the lung motor, for use in reviving
the victim when the body is re-
covered. Any citizen having car
may be drafted to rush the lung
motor to the place of possible need,
and if nobody can be found to take
it out as volunteer service, 1t
should be delivered by taxi, and the
Red Cross will pay the bill. A body
may be restored by the use Of the
lung motor after it has lain in the
water for some time and become
cold.
The Ashton family came to Rose
from Salt Lake and the bodies were
taken there for burial, the funeral
service being held on Wednesday at
tn Rose meeting house.
Mr.. Ashton was about thirty years
old and was married about a year
ago. Miss Ashton was in the early
twenties.
NOTICE FOR BIDS