Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-05

Lewiston, Me-, May 3-Tossed
into the swollen rapids of the An
droscoggin river near here this aft
ernoon when their canoe capsiZed,
Henry \. Rich of Hyde Park, Mass,
Bates college senior and star athlete,
was drowned. while his classmate
and fiancee, Miss Vivian c. Milliken,
a daughter of former Governor Carl
T.. Milliken of Maine, saved her own
life by swimming nearly $50 yards
through turbulent waters to the
shore fully clad.
The accident, involving two of the
most prominent students at the To-
cal coed institution, occurred Just
above the falls on the opposite side
of the river. Reaching mid-stream
the canoe, travelling at high speed
in the fast-moVing current, over
turned and hurled the two occu-
pants into the water. Both were eX-
pert swimmers and Rich had made
4 reputation for himself as a canoe
list at college.
Rich and Miss Milliken chung to
the canoe as it was carried down
stream by the current, bottom side
up. Soon, however, the girl re-
leased her bold and struck out for
the shore, assuming that her sweet
heart, who she knew was a splen-
did swimmer, would follow her. She
believed he was close behind until
she climbed eNhaustedly upon the
river bank.
Far down the stream she could
then see the canoe as ii plunged
through the turbid waters toward
the big dam, Il short distance away.
But Rich had evidently persisted in
the interim, a victim of cramps, for
the girl could not discern his fig
ure in the water near the overturn-
| ed bark.
Although she was nearly exhaust
ed from her battle with the swollen
river. she pluckily ran quarter Of
a mile TO the nearest houSe-the
home of Everett Clark on North
River road. Auburn, for aid. There,
! she hurriedly told what had hap
pened and. after three men had
| started for the river in an effort TO
rescue her sweetheart, collapsed.
Those who went to Rich's assist
anCc could find no trace of him.
| But the shattered canoe was dis
| covered at the base of the big dam.
| Police from this city searched the
river bank tonight without locating
! the body. Tomorrow. the river will
| be dragged. but officials doubt il
/ they will succeed In recovering it
at present because of the river,
| which is running fast and high.
| Miss Miliken is 20 and Rich was
%. They had been keeping COM
! pany four years, and were to be
married following their graduation
| in June. Bates students. most of
! whom were well-acquainted with
| both. were grief-stricllen upon learn
| ing of the death of Rich. who. dur
| ing his four years ut that school,
/ had made n name for himself in sew
| eral branches of athletics.
Rich was the son of Mr.. and Mrs
Frank Il. Rich of . Everett street,
| HYDE Park. His father. now dead.
was once a member of the Hyde
| Park board of selectmen. Rich was
| educated in the grade schools OF
| Hyde Park and was graduated from
! the Huntington school before he
! matricuiated to Bates in 1920
| He was president of the Bates
| Outing Club. president of the state
! Intercollegiate Sport Association
and a prominent athlete. Besides
/ his mother. he leaves two sisters,
| Mabel of Boston and Mrs. K. n
| kecne of Dedham.
! Miss Milliken also is active in ath-
/ letic and academic organizations
and is a member of Phi Beta kappa,
/ which is the highest academic hon
! or that can be conferred upon a col
leg2 student. Her home is in Island
| Falls.