The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-07-06
SAD TRAGEDY
ON 4TH OF JULY
Lawrence Mcdonnell, Of Wenatchee,
Accidentally Drowned In Okanogan
River Wednesday Morning.

The pleasure of perfect day on
the 4th was spoiled by a tragedy that
occurred at Oroville during the morn.
ing hours. About 1920 o'clock We'd
nesday morning Lawrence Mcdonnell
aged about "a years, proprietor of the
Ideal Trim Shop. at Wenatchee, was
drowned in the Okanogan river. at thu
very north edge of town. At the time
of the accident ne was In boat COM
ing down the Okanogan river from
Osoyoos lake, where he had been fish
ing with two companions, Fred Clark
and e. e. Judey. Mr.. Clark who owns
the nondescript motor boat In which
the party was riding, gives the follow
ing particulars of the accident:
Mr.. Judey was in charge of the boat
coming down and it ran into one Of
the supports Of the siphon that carries
water for the West Okanogan Valley
Irrigation system from the west to the
east side of the valley. The blow was
not very severe, but Mr.. Clark was
knocked out of the boat and managed
to catch on projection on the sup
port OF the trestle. There was a small
tub in the boat in which the party had
been carrying minnows, and Mr.. Nc
DOnnell is supposed to have stepped
back into the tub, as it was turned on
, it's side, lost his balance and fell in
the water. The boat is very awkward
| to manage and 1t was some little time
before Mr.. Judey could turn 1t. Mean
| time Mr. Mcdonnell was seen SWIM
| ming in the water with his pipe in his
mouth. Mr.. Clark hailed him and he
replied in a cheerful voice that ne
could make it, meaning the shore, and
! that he was all right. Mr.. Clark swan
to the boat and it was headed for MT.
Mcdonnell, but before they could
reach him he went down without max
ing sound, and never came up again.
Mr.. Mcdonnell drove up to Oroville
Monday accompanied by his wife and
child to spend the 4th with two
friends, E. Z. Judey and J. E. Cooper,
former residents of Wenatchee, who
Town tracts In East Oroville. The fam
/ lily was camped near the British Co.
,lumbia line and Mr.. Mcdonnell ac-
cepted an invitation to go fishing on
| Osoyoos lake with Mr.. Clark and Mr..
Judey. They left for the lake early In
the morning, meeting with good sue
cess. Mr.. Clark wanted to continue up
the lake in the boat, but his compan-
ions wished to return to Oroville and
secure car and drive up. 1t was on
the down trip when the accident oc-
Icurred.
This unfortunate occurrance was
one of those accidents for which no
one could be held responsible. The
victim himself was taking long chan-
ces of a ducking, if nothing more SER
lious. by recklessly standing up In the
bow of boat, on a limited footing
which he was doing at the time he
fell off. He took that position for the
purpose of watching the fish darting
around in the river, which are readily
seen as the water is so clear, and was
constantly calling out There's a
bass" he mistaking all species OF fish
for bass. Mr.. Clark was not remotely
responsible for the accident, although
he is blaming himself that he did not
insist that Mr.. Mcdonnell remain In
the cockpit of the boat. That the acci'
; dent happened from his boat Mr.. CLARK
feels very keenly. AS he was tarown
from the boat, or jumped to save him
: self, it was impossible for him to ex'
,tend help to Mr.. Mcdonnell.
Body Recovered.
The body of Lawrence Mcdonnell
2 drowned in the Okanogan river Wed
: nesday. was recovered about 4 O'CLOCK
v Thursday afternoon by Geo. Pulls ant
T Oliver Rimel 1t was picked up abou
4 so feet below the place ne was seen u
e go down, by dragging a barbed wir'
n along the bottom of the river. A re
n ward of 800 had been offered for th'
+ recovery of the remains and this VIII
q be divided between the finders.
-X--------
,nnnn UcTINlTES