A summer evening swim in Nimishillen Creek ended in tragedy for 16-year-old Royal W. Tebay.
He and his companion, Clayton W. Hines, had gone to a swimming hole just south of Canton, Ohio, near the pesthouse. It was only their second time bathing there, and neither boy knew how deep the water was.
They waded in until the creek suddenly dropped beneath them. Hines managed to struggle back to shore, exhausted, but when he turned around, Royal was still fighting in the water.
Hines grabbed a stick and tried to reach him, but he was too late. By the time help arrived and searchers recovered the body, the quiet evening outing had become a heartbreaking loss.
Boy Drowned
CANTON, Ohio.. — Royal W. Tebay, aged 16, while bathing in the Nimishillen Creek just south of the city was drowned Saturday evening. Accompanied by Clayton W. Hines, he left home about 6:30 o’clock for a swimming hole near the pesthouse.
Young Hines, who lives in the same house with Tebay, says that it was the second time they had been swimming at this place and they did not know its depth. The boys waded into the creek until, before knowing it, they were in over their heads.
Hines succeeded in reaching the shore, very much exhausted, and upon looking around saw his companion still struggling in the water.
Running for a stick lying near, he made an attempt to save Tebay but reached him as the young man was sinking for the last time.
The patrol was summoned and after a search of half an hour the body was brought to the banks of the stream. The remains were removed to Shilling’s morgue.
Source: The Stark County Democrat. Canton, Ohio. July 19, 1904.
