Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1891 — A Life's Ending. [ARTICLE]

A Life's Ending.

The following particulars concerning the sad and fatal accident which befel AJ. Leatherman, we extract from the Fort Pierre, Sonth Dakota, Fairplav’: Judge F. W. Pettigrew, county Auditor Murphy, Attorneys A.J. Leatherman and Jos. Donahue; Doctor C. J. Lavery, Merchant Frank Fischer and the Fairplayedtor, stalled just after noon of Monday for a pleasare ride up the Missouri. After isailing up the river a few miles the trip was abandoned and the boat (which, by the way, was a ronnd bottomed yawl and supposed to be trusty) headed homeward. Messrs. Fischer and Lavery getting out at the Jim Leighton landing. Everything augured well until they arrived opposite the city, when it was seen that the ferryboat had arrived at its landing, which necessitated them dropping down to the month of Bad river and running up the same, which they decided to do. At this time the wind had subsided, so they let out the sails, but to no apparent good.— It was then found that no oarlocks were in the boat, and all the time they were gradually nearing the bridge at point' where the current is swiftest in the river and boils through between the boats like a torrent. Being without oarlocks they made slow progress shoreward. The pontoon bridge which spans the river just below the mouth of Bsd river is held in place to a certain extent by a cable connecting the bridge some eight or ten boats out with a sunken anchor up the river toward the shore. The boat seems to have drifted upon the wire and was earried down toward the bridge at such an incline that the boat filled with water and was overturned upstream. J. Jeffries, who was sitting in the front e id of the boat, made a jump for the bridge and landed with but one foot wet. The rest of the party were all thrown in the water. A. J. Leatherman was more unfortunate than tne rest, and was earned under the water and never rose to the surface again, The rest of the party had an exceedingly narrow escape, bnt were fortunate to catch upon one of the pontoon boats. Jos. Donahue was only saved by the assistance of Mr. Murphy who kept him above the water until he could grasp the bridge. It was an exceedingly narrow escape for the whole party, when the condition in which the boat was upturned and the terrible cuarent are taken into consideration. Mr. Leathoiman was eeen by three of the party after he had passed through under the boats, which settles forever all rumors to the contrary Mr. Leatherman was seen to throw up his arms as though his head had been injured bvoontaot with the pontoon bridge, but the’ latter phase is merely supposition. Upon his arrival at Pierre J. N. Leath- | erman found every effort being put forth by the citizens for tho recovery of the body of his brother. When successjresulted, says the Pierre Capital: “Funeral services were conducted by llev. Carpenter and the singing was by a choir all from this city. The scene at the services was very sad. The brother and brother-in-law of the deceased were present. Every friendly and sympathetic kindness which could bo given were extended by his many friends of Pierre, Fort Pierre and Hiehmore. The pontoon bridge company, through managers Ward and l’almer kindly passed all persons and conveyances connected with the funeral and preparations ” On the route homeward the tiain bearing the remains was detained at Highmore a short time, when teachers and scholars of th 6 city schools attested their esteem and respect for their former principal by covering the casket with flowers. Mr. Leatherman carried life insurance to the amount of $4,000—53,000 in the li. of P., and SI,OOO in the Union Central of Cincinnati.