Lewiston Morning Tribune – November 25, 1908
DROWNS IN RIVER
SAD DEATH IRA STALNAKER, AGED CITIZEN,
CROSSING IN A BOAT
Accident Occurred Monday Evening Near Lenore and Body Was Recovered Yesterday
Ira Stalnaker an aged and well known resident of the Peck section, was drowned Monday evening in the Clearwater river, about two miles above Lenore. News of the drowning was brought to the city yesterday afternoon by passengers arriving on the Clearwater train.
Advices relative to the drowning are to the effect that Mr. Stalnaker had decided to go from Lenore to some point in the Peck locality and walked up the railroad track for a distance of two miles, where he secured a small boat for the purpose of crossing the river to the south bank. He had reached a point only a few feet distant from the shore, when he uttered a cry of alarm to the effect that the boat was leaking. A person on the south bank yelled to him to turn back to the other shore, when Mr. Stalnaker replied that it was impossible for him to do so. At this instant he either fell from or jumped from the boat and soon disappeared from view. His body was found yesterday morning a short distance below the point where the accident occurred. The body was taken to the home of a son-in-law near Peck.
The deceased was 77 years of age, has resided in the Clearwater section a number of years, and is well known there. Among his children is George Stalnaker, of the North Fork section.
Transcribed by Jo Frederiksen