Multnomah County OR Archives News.....Body of Brugger Found September 9, 1904
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Sheron Faynor nitwittwin@hotmail.com April 22, 2008, 10:13 am

Morning Oregonian September 9, 1904
Missing High Schoo Teacher Has Been Drowned
While Fording Lewis River,Portland Instructor Met Death-Funeral Will Be Held 
Today
Just two weeks and one day after the disappearnace of Theophil Brugger,an 
instructor of the Portland High School,who started on horseback from Gresham 
to vivist a brother near Woodland,Wash., and never reached his destination,his 
body was discovered in the waters of the Lewis River by an Indian. The INdian 
found the body just about daylight Wedneday morning floating near the bank.It 
was easily recognized and was immediately taken charge of by relatives.
Searching parties had been drsagging the Lewis River and scouring the woods in 
every direction in that locality since the failure of Professor Brugger to 
reach his brother's home at the appointed time, and the return of his horse 
the following morning. This naturally led to the belief that he had been 
drowned,and the fact that the horse's forefeet were tangle in its reins made 
it seem reasonable to belive that the animal had pitched forward into a hole 
in the riverbed,thus entangling himself and throwing his unfortunate rider 
into the current. Professor Brugger could not swim. He began taking lessons at 
the Y.M.C.A. last Winter,but did not perservere until he had mastered the 
art,and this may have cost him his life.It is possible,however,that his head 
may have been struck in the fall,rendering him unconscious.
The last person to see Professor Brugger was a white man whom he met in the 
vicinty of the river on the trail.He stopped and asked this man how the ford 
across the river was. He was told that it was just about as it always was,and 
with this he rode on.The man stood and watched him until he turned into the 
side trail which led to the for,and then resuemd his way.A few minutes later 
he heard him shouting,but his supposition,and that of his friends,is that he 
was shouting for the Indian guide who lived on the other bank of the river to 
come and conduct him across. The Indian did not come out,so he tried to cross 
alone.
Professor Brugger had been on a trip to Mount Hood before he started on the 
journey to Woodland.When he reached Gresham and found the letter from his 
brother,asking him to Woodland for a visit,for some unaccountable reason he 
did not want to go.He wanted to see his brother,but some strange premonition 
seemed to hold him back.He decided to go,however,and started out in fairly 
good spirits,never to return.
The funeral services will be held at the First Unitarian Chapel,Seventh and 
Yamhill,at 10 o'clock this morning after which the remains will be taken to 
Gresham for internment.
Mr.Brugger had manyy friends in Portland.He was connected with the Bishop 
Scorr Academy for a number of years, and at the time of his death occupied the 
chair of physics in the High School.He had traveled widely and was a man of 
unusual culture and refinement.

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