Porritt, George

ROCKWOOD.
Sad Drowning Accident Last Thurs-
day -- Local Option An Issue.
Mr. B. H. Spence, Toronto, spoke at Rockwood last Monday night, and Everton Tuesday, in the interests of local option and the Dominion Alliance.
This village was stirred on Friday afternoon by the sad discovery that a bright young man, who had been visiting here, was drowned the afternoon before.
George Porritt, nineteen years of age, whose people live in Hespeler, met his death alone while bathing in the river. The body was recovered on Friday evening.
Mr. Porritt's family formerly lived in Rockwood and he came here about a month ago to spend a restful holiday in Rockwood after the stress of study and examinations. He had passed his senior leaving and matriculation with honors. He was staying with the Misses McNab, old friends, and on Thursday afternoon he sauntered away with a book to while away a pleasant afternoon. Not returning in the evening his hostesses thought he had gone out into the country and expected that he would come back in the morning. When he did not come they spoke concerning his disappearance and it was decided to wait until after dinner. That hope failed and in the general search which followed Freddie Gibbons found clothes on the bank which were recognized as Porritt's, at the usual bathing place below the "Pinnacle." It was then almost a certainty that the young man had met his death by drowning, as he has spoken of having enjoyed a bath on the Wednesday. Boats were procured and, after a couple of hours search, Mr. Eli Ford located the body. It was standing upright in the mud in about fourteen feet of water. It is supposed the deceased was having a bath on the ledge and slipped off into the deep water.
Acting County Crown Attorney Mowat was in the village when the body was recovered and after investigating the circumstances, decided that an inquest was not necessary. The body was taken to Hespeler Saturday morning.
The parents and family will have sincere sympathy in their bereavement. The young man was down to Toronto the Tuesday before and made arrangements for a room when he would go down to attend the University next October.