The Daily News Batavia, Genesee County, New York State January 12-1914 Below Zero Temperature Anticipated Only Six Degrees Above in Batavia Early This Afternoon Frigid in the West Duluth Street Thermometer Indicated from 10 to 14 Below Mark Batavia and vicinity have been in the grasp of a series of blizzards since yesterday afternoon. It was not severely cold, but there were considerable snow and wind yesterday afternoon, over night and today. The lowest temperature over night was 13 degrees. At 9:30 o'clock last night it was 20 degrees and at 7:30 o'clock this morning 14 degrees. During the forenoon the temperature fell and at 1:30 p.m. the mercury was only 6 above zero. Over Saturday night the temperature went down to 9 degrees. In the middle of the day yesterday the sun shone, but the pleasant period was followed by a severe blizzard which lasted about half an hour. Later in the afternoon there was another. All during the night the wind blew hard and there were flurries of snow, conditions today being blizzardous. More snow and colder weather are predicted for tonight, with tomorrow generally fair. Country roads became badly drifted. The village snow plows were late in being started this morning and afforded little relief to citizens who were obliged to get out. The trolley men had both tracks cleared with the snow plow before 7:30 o'clock. * William Preston, 21, Died While Swimming in the Pool at Y.M.C.A. Inquest in the Case to be Held by Coroner Whitcombe Many Men Who Looked On Finally William Ramsay Plunged into Water and Dragged Body Out William L. PRESTON, whose home was in Castile, but who had been employed at the harvester works in Batavia several weeks, was drowned in the swimming pool at the Young Men's Christian Association building a few minutes before 10 o'clock on Saturday night. PRESTON sank suddenly and, although he was removed from the water within a very few minutes, physicians who were near at hand, were unable to resuscitate him. It was open night for the employes of the harvester plant at the Y.M.C.A. and Secretary TAGG estimated that fully 700 men were in the building to enjoy the privileges of the rooms and the swimming pool during the evening. PRESTON was among the number. He was not a member of the Y.M.C.A. Between 150 and 200 men were in the building at the time the accident happened. Howard WARNER, another Castile youth also employed at the harvester works, was with young PRESTON and was practically the only one who observed PRESTON's movements just before the fatality, although there were a few others in the pool. He said that PRESTON had previously complained of a headache and nausea and that he had advised him not to enter the water. PRESTON was a swimmer, however, and insisted on entering the pool. He had been in the water only a few moments when WARNER saw him wade into deep water and then take a stroke or two. Suddenly Went to the Bottom Suddenly PRESTON sank, but reappeared so that one hand came above the surface of the water. He went down a second time and reappeared for an instant and then sank. WARNER, who was himself in the water, in the shallow end of the pool, became frightened and called to others. There were about 25 men surrounding the pool when WARNER, who could not swim himself, called out that PRESTON was drowning. The youth did not come to the surface again and William RAMSAY of No. 12 WALKER place, an expert swimmer, who was bowling in the alleys adjoining the pool, hastily threw off his outer garments and entering the water, easily found the body of PRESTON and dragged it out on to the marble floor. Coroner WHITCOMBE, who had been in the reading room on the first floor, was on hand immediately and Dr. KLUGHERZ, who had been attending the convention of osteopaths which had just adjoined on the second floor of the building, arrived at the same moment. Both physicians worked strenuously for fifty minutes before they pronounced the young man dead. It was said that no more than a cup of water was forced from the stomach and that there was no water in the lungs. May Have Suffered Heart Cramp Coroner WHITCOMBE interrogated a number of people about the circumstances of PRESTON's death. He was inclined to believe that the youth had suffered a heart cramp after entering the water, for, the coroner stated, it was practically impossible that the youth could have been in the water longer than from two to five minutes at most. PRESTON was born at Castile on September 14, 1892, and came to Batavia on November 1st last to work in the harrow room of the harvester plant. He had boarded at the home of A.B. CLOR, No. 4 Elm street. For about three weeks he had been engaged on piece work in the harrow room. Mr. CLOR said that when PRESTON left home Saturday night to go to the Y.M.C.A. he was in good spirits, although he remarked that he had a severe headache. PRESTON is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert C. PRESTON, who live on a small farm at Castile; a brother, Robert PRESTON, and a sister, Miss Mildred PRESTON, both of whom live at home. The father and brother arrived in Batavia yesterday morning. Coroner WHITCOMBE granted a certificate of death from accidental drowning and turned the body over to the relatives. It was then taken overland to Le Roy, whence it was conveyed on the B.R.&P. railroad to Silver Springs, thence to Castile, via the Erie. Besides the father and brother, the remains were accompanied by the dead youth's friend, Howard WARNER, of Castile. Both the father and brother said yesterday afternoon that William PRESTON had never been afflicted with heart trouble and that he had always enjoyed good health., never suffering from any ailment. They were at a loss to explain the sudden attack in the water. It is expected that the funeral will be tomorrow afternoon from the family home at Castile, where the young man was a member of the Methodist church. He had joined the fellowship class of the M.E. church in Batavia, the members of whom viewed the remains at the Turner undertaking rooms at 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Sloping Bottom of the Pool Secretary TAGG of the Y.M.C.A. said that the accident occurred about the time of the closing of the swimming department, but that the men were not being hurried to leave the pool, because it was an open night for the factory employes. On regular nights the place is closed at 10 o'clock. The pool is in the basement, on the east side of the building and it extends north and south, being 47 feet long and 18 feet wide. At the northern end of the pool the water is 2 1/2 feet deep and gradually deepens towards the south. There is a drop of six inches in five yards and then the water continues to deepen more rapidly until about two thirds of the pool's length is reached, where it is seven feet deep. Ten feet out from the southern end it is six feet deep. Mr. TAGG said that PRESTON's body was removed at a point where the water was only 5 1/2 feet deep. It is customary to heat the water in the pool to a temperature of 78 degrees, which is warmer than inmost pools. Some swimmers prefer it at a temperature of 68 degrees, Mr. TAGG said, but it was usually kept at about 74 degrees in other pools. The fact that the water was so warm would preclude the possibility, it is thought, of a cramp on account of sudden contact with the water. Wallace WHITE, one of the assistants at the Y.M.C.A. was on duty in the basement when the accident happened. No one was stationed to was the swimming pool, constantly, as is the custom when regular classes are in the water. Secretary TAGG said it was not customary to have any one on guard all the time unless one person was in the pool alone, or regular classes were in session. On these latter occasions Physical Director GAY, Boys Secretary NICHOLS and Mr. WHITE are always on guard. Inquest to be Held Tomorrow. Coroner WHITCOMBE expects to hold an inquest in the case tomorrow. Rumors to the effect that PRESTON had dived from a spring board and was stunned when he landed on his head at the bottom of the swimming pool are evidently without foundation. Nobody who was in the building could be found who saw him dive at any time from the board and Coroner WHITCOMBE said the story was absolutely without foundation. * submitted by Linda Schmidt *********************************************