South Branch Intelligencer

Drowned near the Rocks.

A young man named Harry Sprigg, from Paw Paw, who for some time has been employed as a teamster by Mr. Ashkettle, of this vicinity, was drowned in the South Branch at the lower end of Hanging Rocks on Wednesday of last week. The ford at that point has been known to be dangerous for a long while, but on the day named it was especially so, as the river was swollen from recent rains. The man seems to have known the risk he was running, for it is said that he hesitated on the bank some time before deciding to attempt the passage of the stream, and at last, as he drove into the water, said to some persons on the shore, 'If you never see me again, good-by.' Yet, despite his consciousness of danger, he had his mules tightly reined; and the result was, that when they got into deep water, which they did at about 40 feet from the bank, they were unable to swim, or they would in all probability have brought themselves, their driver, and the wagon safe to the shore. As it was, however, only one of them, off which Mr. Sprigg, when he saw his peril, had pulled the bridle, succeeded in getting out and saving its life and, for the time being, that of its rider. But then Mr. Sprigg went back into the stream to save the rest of his team, and while trying to cut them loose, the current upset the wagon and threw the unfortunate man into the water, from which, as he could not swim, he never rose alive. The mules and vehicle were washed some distance down stream, the former being drowned and the latter afterwards recovered, though minus one wheel and otherwise damaged. The father of the drowned man came up from Paw Paw on Thursday, and after dragging the river for the greater part of the day found the body of his son about 100 yards below the ford, and near the right bank. In this work he was kindly assisted by Mr. Frank Herrick, who lives near the scene of the accident, and who took his whole farm force to the river to help in the search for the dead. We understand that the body was taken home for interment.