Idaho County ID Archives Obituaries.....Willey, Frank  July 10, 1920
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Chris Cornett cc1952_70@msn.com December 2, 2007, 12:58 am

Idaho County Free Press, Grangeville, ID; July 15, 1920
RIVER CLAIMS TWO LIVES
A.S. WRIGHT PERISHES IN VAIN ATTEMPT TO SAVE GRANDSON FROM DROWNING

   A.S. Wright, 59, president of the Wright Grocery Company in Grangeville, 
lost his life at noon Saturday in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue his 
grandson, Frank Willey, 12 years old, from a drowning in the middle fork of 
the Clearwater River at Lowell, 25 miles up the middle fork from Kooskia.
  Mr. Wright's death was attributed to heart disease, superinduced by over-
exertion when he saw his grandson struggling for life in the swift waters of 
the river. Mr. Wright sank to the bottom, in 25 feet of water.

ON FISHING EXPEDITION

  Mr. Wright and the Willey boy were members of a party from Grangeville which 
had gone to the forks of the river on a fishing trip. Included in the party 
were E.A. Day, his two sons, Ernest and Fred, and Vernon Willey, while camped 
nearby was a second party comprising W.H. Badgero, of Grangeville, his son-in-
law, J.E. Merrifield and  G.A. Hackett of Walla Walla.
  About noon on Saturday the Day boys and the two Willey boys were wading in 
about a foot of water on a sandbar in the river, when suddenly Frank Willey 
stepped off the sandbar into deep water. His companion immediately called for 
help to adult members of the party, who were sitting on the bank of the river 
200 feet away. Rushing to the scene, Mr. Wright, fully dressed, leaped into 
the water to rescue the boy, caught hold of the lad, and for a moment 
attempted to bring him to shore.
  Observing Mr. Wright was unsuccessful in his effort, Mr. Day jumped into the 
raging river, and caught Mr. Wright by the hand. Mr. Wright suddenly let loose 
Mr. Day's hand and at the same time released his hold on the boy, and dropped 
beneath the waters surface. The boy also went down, and it was only with 
difficulty that the other men in the party were able to rescue Mr. Day. The 
man and boy went down in 20 feet of water.

FIND BOY IN HALF HOUR
 
 The body of Frank Willey was recovered by the use of grappling hooks within a 
half hour after the boy drowned, while Mr. Wright's body was not recovered for 
two hours.
  For an hour and a half, members of the party, assisted by Mrs. William Parry 
of Lowell, worked over the boy in an effort to restore respiration and bring 
him to life. but without avail.
  When Mr. Wright's body was brought ashore, attempt was made to revive a 
spark of life in him, but with fruitless results.
  It is believed that Mr. Wright's death was due to heart disease, from which 
he had lately been suffering.
  His sudden release of the boy and lso Mr. Day's belief, as does the fact no 
water was found in his lungs, while the boy's were filled with water, is the 
case with a person who has been drowned. Also, the boy came to the surface the 
proverbial three times before he sank to the bottom, while Mr. Wright's did 
not rise.
  Coroner A.J. Mugg was called to the scene of the tragedy Saturday afternoon, 
and arrived at Lowell 8 o'clock Saturday night. He deemed no inquest 
necessary, and had the bodies removed to Grangeville.

Obituary for Frank Willey

HAROLD FRANK WILLEY, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Willey, was born in 
Grangeville on Aug. 10, 1908. His entire life was spent here. Besides his 
sorrowing parents, he is survived by three brothers; Vernon, Glenn, and Wayne, 
and by two sisters; Eva and Beulah.
  Joint funeral services for Mr. Wright and his grandson were held Monday 
afternoon at 2:30 form the Odd Fellows hall. Every seat  in the hall was 
occupied while many friends  found standing room only. Brief services were 
conducted by the Rev. S. Randall, pastor of the Federated Church. Burial, 
directed by A.J. Maugg, took place in the Prairie View Cemetery.
  Active pallbearers for Mr. Wright were A. Urbahn, V. Knapp, John P. Eimers, 
C.A. Johnston, R.F. Fulton, and W.H. Badgero. Honorary pallbearers were T.E. 
Quinlan, D.H. Sasenberry, M.B. Geary, J. Frank Sims, Frank Hockersmith, and 
C.C. Call.
  Pallbearers for Harold Frank Willey were John Eimers, Jr., Floyd Hamill, 
Reese Hattabaugh, Jr., Harold Smith, Rowley Call, and Paul Eimers. All are Boy 
Scouts.


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