Chico Daily Enterprise, Friday evening, April 19, 1907: "Charles Gray Was Drowned In Edgar Slough Thursday Afternoon While Fishing. Samuel Gray In an Effort to Rescue His Cousin Had Narrow Escape. Charles E. Gray, a well known young man of Dayton, was drowned in Edgar Slough about 3:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon and his cousin, Sam Gray, narrowly escaped meeting a simlar [sic] fate being rescued in a half-drowned condition. The two Grays were engaged in fishing along the slough about three miles below Dayton and soon reached a point opposite where Dan Bradford and C. Vermette were also fishing. The quartette soon began bantering each other as to their ability to swim across the slough, which is about twenty feet wide at that point. Charles Gray, the unfortunate member of the party, jumped into the water and essayed the feat, but when he reached the middle he was evidently seized with cramps, as he began to struggle. Dan Bradford, who was a good swimmer immediately jumped in in an effort to rescue him. Bradford succeeded in reaching the young man, but the latter broke away from him and was drowned.
Sam Gray, his cousin, had entered the water just after Bradford and before he reached the scene he succumbed to the chill of the water and began to sink. His condition was noticed by Vermette who called to Bradford and the two with the assistance of a fishing pole were able to bring Sam to shore in a semi-conscious condition. In the meantime Charles Gray had sunk beneath the surface for the last time. Bradford immediately dispatched Vermette to Dayton, three miles away, for a doctor and assistance, and then went to work on Sam Gray, who was in almost lifeless condition. After hard work he was able to revive him, but the young man was still in a critical condition when Dr. Enloe arrived from Chico. The body of Charles Gray was recovered about an hour and a half after the accident. Where it was found the slough was about twenty feet wide and ten feet deep. The young man who dove into the stream found the water ice cold, but persisted in his work recovering the remains at the fifth effort. Coroner Wallace, who had been notified, summoned Isaac Hedge, [sic] W. H. McAnarlin, J.S. Hunting, W.N. Sheve, Joseph Hewitt, Roy E. Cussick and F.S. Boucher as jurors. After hearing the evidence of the witnesses of the accident the jury returned a verdict of accidental drowning. It is the general consensus of opinion that the water being so cold and both men being indifferent swimmers, they could not withstand the attack of cramps. Charles Gray, the unfortunate young man, was 25 years old and a son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Gray of Dayton, with whom he made his home, being employed on the farm. He was well known and had many friends in Dayton and Chico. The deceased was a member of the Durham Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, who will conduct the funeral services at the family residence Sunday at 2 p.m., Rev. Mr. Lobdell of the Christian Church officiating."
From Other Sources: Charles Elmer Gray, aged 25 yrs., 7 mos was a laborer, 5' 8" tall, and died of accidental drowning, per John Wallace, coroner. Rev. Lobdell conducted the services at Dayton Church at 2 p.m, with interment at the Dayton cemetery.
(*) believe M.W.A. to stand for Mine Workers of America, [Ed.]
Sam Gray, his cousin, had entered the water just after Bradford and before he reached the scene he succumbed to the chill of the water and began to sink. His condition was noticed by Vermette who called to Bradford and the two with the assistance of a fishing pole were able to bring Sam to shore in a semi-conscious condition. In the meantime Charles Gray had sunk beneath the surface for the last time. Bradford immediately dispatched Vermette to Dayton, three miles away, for a doctor and assistance, and then went to work on Sam Gray, who was in almost lifeless condition. After hard work he was able to revive him, but the young man was still in a critical condition when Dr. Enloe arrived from Chico. The body of Charles Gray was recovered about an hour and a half after the accident. Where it was found the slough was about twenty feet wide and ten feet deep. The young man who dove into the stream found the water ice cold, but persisted in his work recovering the remains at the fifth effort. Coroner Wallace, who had been notified, summoned Isaac Hedge, [sic] W. H. McAnarlin, J.S. Hunting, W.N. Sheve, Joseph Hewitt, Roy E. Cussick and F.S. Boucher as jurors. After hearing the evidence of the witnesses of the accident the jury returned a verdict of accidental drowning. It is the general consensus of opinion that the water being so cold and both men being indifferent swimmers, they could not withstand the attack of cramps. Charles Gray, the unfortunate young man, was 25 years old and a son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Gray of Dayton, with whom he made his home, being employed on the farm. He was well known and had many friends in Dayton and Chico. The deceased was a member of the Durham Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, who will conduct the funeral services at the family residence Sunday at 2 p.m., Rev. Mr. Lobdell of the Christian Church officiating."
From Other Sources: Charles Elmer Gray, aged 25 yrs., 7 mos was a laborer, 5' 8" tall, and died of accidental drowning, per John Wallace, coroner. Rev. Lobdell conducted the services at Dayton Church at 2 p.m, with interment at the Dayton cemetery.
(*) believe M.W.A. to stand for Mine Workers of America, [Ed.]
Chico Daily Enterprise, Friday evening, April 19, 1907: "Charles Gray Was Drowned In Edgar Slough Thursday Afternoon While Fishing. Samuel Gray In an Effort to Rescue His Cousin Had Narrow Escape. Charles E. Gray, a well known young man of Dayton, was drowned in Edgar Slough about 3:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon and his cousin, Sam Gray, narrowly escaped meeting a simlar [sic] fate being rescued in a half-drowned condition. The two Grays were engaged in fishing along the slough about three miles below Dayton and soon reached a point opposite where Dan Bradford and C. Vermette were also fishing. The quartette soon began bantering each other as to their ability to swim across the slough, which is about twenty feet wide at that point. Charles Gray, the unfortunate member of the party, jumped into the water and essayed the feat, but when he reached the middle he was evidently seized with cramps, as he began to struggle. Dan Bradford, who was a good swimmer immediately jumped in in an effort to rescue him. Bradford succeeded in reaching the young man, but the latter broke away from him and was drowned.
Sam Gray, his cousin, had entered the water just after Bradford and before he reached the scene he succumbed to the chill of the water and began to sink. His condition was noticed by Vermette who called to Bradford and the two with the assistance of a fishing pole were able to bring Sam to shore in a semi-conscious condition. In the meantime Charles Gray had sunk beneath the surface for the last time. Bradford immediately dispatched Vermette to Dayton, three miles away, for a doctor and assistance, and then went to work on Sam Gray, who was in almost lifeless condition. After hard work he was able to revive him, but the young man was still in a critical condition when Dr. Enloe arrived from Chico. The body of Charles Gray was recovered about an hour and a half after the accident. Where it was found the slough was about twenty feet wide and ten feet deep. The young man who dove into the stream found the water ice cold, but persisted in his work recovering the remains at the fifth effort. Coroner Wallace, who had been notified, summoned Isaac Hedge, [sic] W. H. McAnarlin, J.S. Hunting, W.N. Sheve, Joseph Hewitt, Roy E. Cussick and F.S. Boucher as jurors. After hearing the evidence of the witnesses of the accident the jury returned a verdict of accidental drowning. It is the general consensus of opinion that the water being so cold and both men being indifferent swimmers, they could not withstand the attack of cramps. Charles Gray, the unfortunate young man, was 25 years old and a son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Gray of Dayton, with whom he made his home, being employed on the farm. He was well known and had many friends in Dayton and Chico. The deceased was a member of the Durham Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, who will conduct the funeral services at the family residence Sunday at 2 p.m., Rev. Mr. Lobdell of the Christian Church officiating."
From Other Sources: Charles Elmer Gray, aged 25 yrs., 7 mos was a laborer, 5' 8" tall, and died of accidental drowning, per John Wallace, coroner. Rev. Lobdell conducted the services at Dayton Church at 2 p.m, with interment at the Dayton cemetery.
(*) believe M.W.A. to stand for Mine Workers of America, [Ed.]
Sam Gray, his cousin, had entered the water just after Bradford and before he reached the scene he succumbed to the chill of the water and began to sink. His condition was noticed by Vermette who called to Bradford and the two with the assistance of a fishing pole were able to bring Sam to shore in a semi-conscious condition. In the meantime Charles Gray had sunk beneath the surface for the last time. Bradford immediately dispatched Vermette to Dayton, three miles away, for a doctor and assistance, and then went to work on Sam Gray, who was in almost lifeless condition. After hard work he was able to revive him, but the young man was still in a critical condition when Dr. Enloe arrived from Chico. The body of Charles Gray was recovered about an hour and a half after the accident. Where it was found the slough was about twenty feet wide and ten feet deep. The young man who dove into the stream found the water ice cold, but persisted in his work recovering the remains at the fifth effort. Coroner Wallace, who had been notified, summoned Isaac Hedge, [sic] W. H. McAnarlin, J.S. Hunting, W.N. Sheve, Joseph Hewitt, Roy E. Cussick and F.S. Boucher as jurors. After hearing the evidence of the witnesses of the accident the jury returned a verdict of accidental drowning. It is the general consensus of opinion that the water being so cold and both men being indifferent swimmers, they could not withstand the attack of cramps. Charles Gray, the unfortunate young man, was 25 years old and a son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Gray of Dayton, with whom he made his home, being employed on the farm. He was well known and had many friends in Dayton and Chico. The deceased was a member of the Durham Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, who will conduct the funeral services at the family residence Sunday at 2 p.m., Rev. Mr. Lobdell of the Christian Church officiating."
From Other Sources: Charles Elmer Gray, aged 25 yrs., 7 mos was a laborer, 5' 8" tall, and died of accidental drowning, per John Wallace, coroner. Rev. Lobdell conducted the services at Dayton Church at 2 p.m, with interment at the Dayton cemetery.
(*) believe M.W.A. to stand for Mine Workers of America, [Ed.]
Inscription
"Charles E., son of J.W. & M.A. Gray
Sept. 18, 1881 - April 18, 1907
Gone, But not forgotten
At Rest"
A flying Dove over opening gates is inscribed in the marker. M.W.A. (*) symbol, along with a crossed pick & shovel in marker.
Gravesite Details
SOURCE: Dayton Cemetery (c) 1994 By Adriana Farley and Marilyn Corley
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