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Obituary |
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Lewiston Teller Lewiston, Idaho, July 29, 1898 Charles Chapman Drowned. The sad news of the drowning of Charles Chapman was received here Monday. The announcement came by telephone from Leland about noon of that day to the young man's father, J. L. Chapman, of this city. The accident occurred at the old Chapman saw mill on the Clearwater 60 miles above Lewiston. The rivermen with whom he was engaged in the wood business were enjoying a half holiday on Saturday and in company with visitors at that resort were boating and bathing in the river. Above the mill is an eddy and a back flow making a rough seething stretch of water. Young Chapman who was an expert swimmer, undertook the daring feat of swimming through the rough water. He successfully swam through the dangerous place once and returned again even venturing farther out where the breakers ran higher. His companions were watching the performance. As the swimmer passed into the rough water he was heard to cry out as if in sudden distress. He threw his hands up as if appealing for help and immediately sank in the deep rushing waters. He never again came to the surface. The rivermen used every available means to rescue the drowning man. They continued the efforts to find the body, but have been unsuccessful. The water is deep and many currents contend in the eddy. The bottom is rough being a bed of big boulders. The task is almost hopeless. Ralph Chapman, a brother of the drowned man, went immediately to the scene of the tragedy. Charley Chapman was 28 years of age. He was a native son of Lewiston and he was universally beloved by a large circle of friends and relatives. He was a young man of exemplary character.
Lewiston Teller Ralph Chapman returned Wednesday from the upper Clearwater, where he had been engaged in the sad duty of searching for the body of his brother Charley, who was drowned two weeks ago. Ralph is browned by the terrible heat of the sun, worn and haggard by the labor and ceaseless vigil of the search. He deserves the commendation of a hero for this noble effort to find the body of his drowned brother. He was at last rewarded. He found poor Charley's body in the water eight miles below Chapman's mill. The body could not be removed at present. With the aid of friends a grave was made on the beach and the body was buried near where it was found. Later the body will he removed to the Lewiston cemetery. |