Newcomb, Alfred

A near drowning and the collapse of a section of bleachers marred the annual picnic of the Golden Rod Mining and Smelting Company today at Lakeside Park, near Carthage Missouri. Both occurred simultaneously, shortly before noon. Alfred Newcomb, 15 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Newcomb of Galena Kansas, was saved from death by drowning only by the heroic efforts of two swimmers who kept him from sinking until a boat was rowed to the scene by J. B. Hynal of the United States Bureau of Mines and another man, whose name was not learned. Young Newcomb put on his bathing suit and went into the lake shortly after arriving at the park. He could not swim, it was said, and waded into deep water just below the swinging bridge. Two other bathers, whose names were not learned, saw the boy struggling in the deep water and went to his rescue. The boy obtained a grip on one of his rescuers and the latter was nearly overcome before he was able to break the hold. A swift undercurrent also impeded the rescue. Hynal saw the three struggling in the water and, with the other man, hurried to them in a boat. The boy and his two rescuers were pulled into the boat and taken to shore. At the time of the boy's rescue members of the Golden Rod Company's First Aid team, champions of the Tri-State district, who will leave soon to compete in an international first aid contest at San Francisco were giving emergency treatment to persons injured in the collapse of the bleachers. No one was injured seriously. The elder Newcomb is employed as a blacksmith at one of the Golden Rod mines.