OBIT: John BEAM, 1911, Lancaster, Lancaster County, PA Contributed and transcribed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Gene Beam RRStocks_pa@yahoo.com Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/lancaster/ _______________________________________________ The New Era, Lancaster PA, June 1911 John Beam Loses Life Near Big Bridge. Was swimming with two companions Sunday morning when he was attacked by cramps victim but sixteen years of age. A drowning accident occurred about 11:30 o'clock Sunday morning a few yards below the Big Bridge, in the Conestoga River, cramps causing the tragedy. The victim was John V. Beam, an employee of the cotton mills, the sixteen-year-old son of Samuel S. Beam, of No/ 334 North Plum street and the late Elizabeth Shoenberger Beam. The lad and two companions, Paris Genizler and Jerry McKoniy, Jr., went to the river in the morning for a walk and when they reached the place where the drowning occurred Beam suggested a swim. The other boys advised against it, but finally all went into the steam, which is quite deep there. When a score of yards from shore Beam was attacked with cramp and in response to his call for help Genizler swam out to him with the design of rendering assistance. He got hold of the drowning boy, but the latter clutched his would-be rescuer and came near causing his drowning. Gentzler was thoroughly exhausted when he managed to break away from Beam, not being a very expert swimmer himself, and he hurried to shore. Four young ladies were witnesses of the drowning, Miss Martha Neff, of Millersville: Misses Ada and Alice Hershey, of Gordonyille, and Miss Lottie Resster of No 527 North Plum street. By their advice Beam's alarmed companions hurried to the city waterworks not fat distant and gave the alarm. The news was phoned to the police station and after Patrolman Huber and communicated with Chief of Police Bushong, Officers Goodman and Resh and Patrolman Nickel were sent to the river with the ambulance. News of the accident had spread quickly, and a crowd of people soon gathered along the shores and among those who participated in the search for the body were several of the State Constabulary and Matt Hogarth and Amos Sheaffer. These two, using a rowboat in their search, grappled the body about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, not far from where the drowning occurred. Undertaker Groff took charge of it, and Dr. F. G. Hartman made an investigation for the Coroner, deciding it was an accidental drowning. The deceased, who was a member of St. Paul's Reformed Sunday-school, is survived by his father and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Ella Isaac, Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. Elste Arnold, Mrs. Alice Braungard, Paul, Esther and Anna Louise, city; Arthur B., United States Army, stationed in Main, and Harry, United States Army in Texas.