Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-12-08
DROWNED IN POTOMAC NEAF
RAkERTON


crossing the Potomac River in a leakv
fowooat, and then becoming hysteri-
cal. when it dawned upon the DOOM
ed couple that a plunge in the dark
waters Of that stream was imminent
as the boat was rapidly filling. Mrs.
Kate Gross, of the mountainous sec
ton of Washington county. Md. and
RAYMOND Hoffman, of Bakerton, lost
their lives about $50 last Friday
night in that stream at a point not
far from the West Virginia shore.
John s. Louden, an uncle of the dead
man. was rescued in an exhausted
condition from the overturned boat,
TO which he was clingine with fast
waning strength, by Grover Harden
and several other men. who had been
attracted TO the scene OF the fatilitv
by Louden's cries for help.
Hoffman. who had only one arm.
having lost the other in an air com
presser when a boy, was over so
years of age. Why he was interest
ed in getting Mrs. Gross across the
river is not known. Several DAYS
before he had arranged with c.
H. Mohler. to take Mrs Gross back
in his automobile TO the home Of a
daughter. at Shenandoah Junction.
where she had been visiting prior to
going to Maryland. on the opposite
side of the river. to pay a similar Wis
it to the home of Robert Ingram.
Friday. about 1870, Hoffman and
Mohler called at the home of John
S. Louden. uncle of the dead man.
and tenant on the farm of Mr. and
Mrs. A. A. Lamon. of Bakerton, with
a request that he take Hoffman
across and bring back Mrs Gross.
So intent was Hoffman on making
the trip that he is said to have offer
ed to buy a boat from Louden. The
latter would not sell but consented
to lend a boat to Hoffman.
The one-armed man then essayed
to row the boat. but hampered by
the loss of the arm and the river be-
ing rough and stormy. could not do
so. He also endeavored to induce
several of the Knight boys to under
take the task, and they refused be
cause of weather conditions and the
fact that the night was densely dark
in that section with rain falling.
Louden volunteered to borrow boat
from Grover Harden. about a mile
and quarter up the river, and take
Hoffman across This trip was easily
negotiated. Neither man was aware
Of the leaky condition of the boat
and the craft passed over without
anything to cause apprehension.
The men were joined by Mrs.
Gross and started back; but it was
/. Il to- E = AgA
river that Louden became aware of
the fact that the boat had sprung a
leak and was rapidly filling. This
discovery made him cautious but
greatly alarmed his passengers, who
grew hysterical and failed to heed
his warning to remain calm. while
he called for help. In their terror
Hoffman and the woman upset the
boat, and the last Louden remembers
of the two were agoniZing shrieks
and then terrible silence. He
floundered around for while,
eventually coming in contact with the
overturned boat, which afforded him
a precarious hold while he cried for
assistance.
Fortunately, Grover Harden heard
the cries and with the assistance of
several other men manned another
rowboat and hurried to Louden's
rescue. reaching the man just when
he was about to drop exhausted into
the water. 1t being too dark to
search for the others and realizing
that Louden needed immediate help
they hurried him to the shore, where
he was resuscitated.
Hoffman. who is a nephew of 5.
j. Louden, superintendent of Green
Hill Cemetery, and Frank Louden,
a Baltimore asd Ohio shopman, was
the sole support of his widowed
mother, Mrs. Eliza Jackson. He also
leaves six sisters, Mrs. Frank and
Mrs. Mace Settle. of Hagerstown;
Annie. Pauline, Rose and Evelyn, at
home. and two brothers, Robert, OF
York Pa. and George. Of Wheeling.