The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-07-10
ROY ROWE BROWNS
In WINCHESTER LAKE
While Enjoying Swim With compar7
ions at Fourth Celebration Popular
Young Nezpercer Sank; Body
Recovered Hour and 20
Minutes Later.


Roy R. Rowe, youngest son of Mr..
and Mrs. Lee ]. Rowe of Nezperce,
sank to his death in the mill lake at
Winchester about 400 O'Clock on the
afternoon of July 4th. His body was
recovered an hour and 20 minutes la
ter, after heroic search, and three
physicians and others versed in re
suscitation, with the assistance of a
pulmotor, worked in vain to revive
him.
Thousands of people from the sur
rounding communities had assembled
at Winchester to join in the Fourth of
July celebration conducted under the
auspices Of the Modern Woodmen Of
America. The day was warm and
many had resorted to the lake for a
boat ride or swim, and during the
afternoon most of the available boats
and bathing suits were in use. Mr..
Rowe and some of his companions
were among the bathers. These had
access to raft which was anchored
about so feet from the shore in about
twelve feet of water. Being only
beginner at swimming, he went to the
raft in boat, and as he swung from
the boat into the water he reached
for the raft and grasped companion,
who was sitting on a log forming one
side of it, in such manner as to pull
him off. Failing in securing hold on
the raft, Roy sank beneath the sur
face and the companion recovered his
equilibrium and looked about, expect
ing to see his friend, but failing, gave
the alarm. Those swimming about did
not heed at first, supposing it was
just part Of the general sport. As
soon as the seriousness of the situa-
tion was grasped, the work Of rescue
commenced, and the word was passed
out through the crowd on shore that
man was drowned, and with it went
the name of Roy Rowe of Nezperce.
The gathering on the shore multiplied
rapidly into hundreds, and awe spread
throughout the throng of celebrators
while many men struggled heroically
to retrieve the body before life be-
came extinct.
In the crowd were the parents and
sisters of the young man and as the
moments of unsuccessful search sped
their anxiety broke its bounds and
could not be assuaged by the tender
efforts Of friends.
When the doctors pronounced furth-
er attempts at revival needless, the
remains were taken to the Winchester
hospital, and thence brought with the
grief-stricken family to Nezperce.
The funeral services were held in
the Christian church Sunday after
noon, July 9th. Rev. Raymond Fite,
pastor of the Christian church at
Craigmont, and Rev. J. A. Hoffman,
pastor of the Nezperce Community
church, were in charge. They were as
sisted by Rev. J. FL. Graybill, pastor
Nampa, Idaho. The service was most
impressive and touching, and the hun.
dreds who filled the building and stood
without shed tears of sympathy for
those whose hearts were breaking. The
floral offerings were the most gener-
GUS ever witnessed here, and they
filled the space about the coffin.
The remains were held for the ar
rival of brother, Claud Rowe, from
Can. He reached Nezperce
Tuesday evening, and private burial
was made in the local cemetery We'd
nesday morning.
Roy Rowe was held in highest es-
TEEN not only by the student body Of
the idaho University, but in particu-
lar by his Delta Phi fraternity broth
ers, seven of whom attended his fun
eral in body. They were: Dale
Harding of Nezperce, Frank Kershi-
snik of Burley, Carter Pitcher Of
Moscow, Orville Logan of Twin Falls,
Jack BuckholG of Melrose, Harvey
Rubie of johnson, Wn., and Lucien
Oliver Of Colfax, Wn.
The deceased is survived by his par
snts, three brothers and three sisters:
Mr.. and Mrs. L. J. Rowe of this city,
Claud, of Rutland, Sask., Can; Ar
thur, of Della, Alta, Can; Floyd, Of
his city, Mrs. e. L. SchnelI, and Mrs
Ralph Kennedy Of this place, and Mrs.
Toe Farrar, of Seattle, Wn.
Roy Rex Rowe was born at Nez-
oeree, July 20, 1904 He attended
he public schools of this community
md graduated from the Nezperce
High School with the class Of 1922.
In the fall of the same year he en-
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