The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1948-12-09
TWO men DROWN
AS TRUCK CRASHES
RIVER
Were Riding in Truck Bed
Two Others in Cab Survive and
Are Misunderstanding Date Set


Two men were drowned Monday
night about $50 o'clock after a
truck had careened into Savage river,
near Bloomington. They apparently
were riding in the truck bed.
The victims were identified as Alden
Wilt, Jr., about 35, Swanton; and
Samuel Darr, about As, Westernport.
Two others survived the crash.
Robert Broadwater, owner of the
truck, who told police he waded to
safety after the truck righted itself,
and Dorie Wilt, both of Swanton,
were occupants of the cab.
Trooper T. NJ. Gilmore, who began
the investigation, said the accident
was reported to him by a Western
port salesman who saw the truck
resting in the middle of the stream
where the water is about three feet
deep. Broadwater told the trooper he
walked to Bloomington for help.
Dorie Wilt was sitting in the cab
of the truck when police arrived and
had to be carried to safety. Investi-
eating officers said the man was deaf
and could not follow instructions and
wade to safety.
Firemen from Bloomington and
Westernport worked to lift the truck
and free Alden Wilt who was pinned
beneath it. At the truck was lifted
Dal1's body floated downstream
about 300 feet and became lodged in
rocks. Both bodies were examined by
DR.. E. l. Baumgartner, deputy state
medical examiner, who attributed
both deaths to drowning.
From investigation it was learned
the men were returning to Swanton
and that Darr was going to the
Broadwater farm to help with butch
ering.
The truck turned over on its top as
it landed in the water and then rolled
over right SIDE up. The two victims
were believed thrown from the truck
when it turned over.
The survivors were taken to Oak
land on Tuesday for further question
ing and the truck owner was released
after posting $500 bond for his APP
pearance at a hearing called for Sat
urday morning at 10 o'clock on a
charge of manslaughter by motor We
hicle.
States Attorney W. Dwight Slower
said the owner of the truck, Robert
Broadwater, Swanton, was assumed
to have been the driver Wilt will APP
pear as material witness at the
hearing.
Funerals Held Wednesday
A funeral service for Samuel Lewis
Darr was conducted yesterday morn
ing at 10 o'clock in Westernport by
Rev. o. F. Bowman, pastor of the
Church of the Brethren of Frostburg.
Interment was in Philos cemetery,
Westernport Darr was a son of the
late John and Eliza Jones Darr, a
native of Westernport. He was en-
gagged in farming. Surviving are one
brother, William Darr, near Western
port, with whom he resided; three
sisters, Mrs. Anna Mullan, Western
port; Mrs. Wayne 0. Irwin and Miss
Bertha Lee Darr, LaVale.
Final rites for Alden Wilt were con-
Quoted from the Bloomington Metho-
dist church yesterday at , o'clock
with Rev. j. D. Shaffer, pastor, of
ficiatirg. Victory Post No 1856,
American Legion, Westernport, of
which he was a member, accorded
military rites at the grave in the AL
bert Wilt cemetery near Swanton.
Wilt was son of Mrs. Lulu Wilt,
Swanton, and the late Alden C. Wilt,
Sr. He was born in Swanton and re-
sided there most of his life. During
World War II he served in the cavalry
for three years and nine months in
the ETC. He lived with his mother
and was engaged in farming.
Surviving are his mother, four
brothers, Arthur and Michael Wilt,
both of Swanton; Luther Wilt, of
Bloomington; and Daniel Wilt, Balti-
more; four sisters, Mrs. Carrie
Rounds, Piedmont, W. Va; Mrs. Ger
trudc Ward and Mrs. Blanche Bar
nard, both of Swanton; and Mrs.
Mabel Schaidt, Homecoming.