Jacob Bennett Drowned in Reservoir D. --- Last Tuesday afternoon, about 4 o‘clock, Jacob Bennett, his son, Orlando Bennett and "Yank" Williams drove in an auto to the "Little Fill," Reservoir D, in the town of Kent, to fish. They were fishing from the shore when R.F.D. Carrier Walter Robinson came along on his return trip and stopped and asked them to move their auto to the side of the road so he could pass, as the highway is narrow at that point and their car was standing in the middle of it. The men complied with his request by pushing the car to one side and after he passed they started to push it back again in its former position, when Jacob Bennett, who was on the edge of the reservoir, stumbled and fell into the water, which is about 7 feet deep at that point. Neither he, his son nor Williams could swim and his companions being powerless to aid him he drowned before help could be procured. Contractor Charles A. Haight and E.A. Beale, who were in a boat fishing some distance out on the reservoir, heard their call for help and hurried to the spot. They got some rails and fastened a spike in them and Mr. Haight succeeded in grappling the body, which was in a standing position, and brought it to the surface. After being taken from the water there was a slight movement of the body, but Bennett was practically dead as he had been in the water thirty-six minutes before Haight and Beale arrived. --- Mr. Haight autoed to Carmel and got Undertaker Ganong and the Coroner Dr. F.J. McKown, was summoned and viewed the remains, after which the body was taken in charge by the undertaker and conveyed to Bennett's home on the State road north of Carmel. --- The highway at the "little fill" is a dangerous place, being narrow with water on both sides and no guard rail there to afford protection. We understand the matter brought to the attention of the city's water department and a request made for remedying the dangerous conditions by the erection of guard rails. --- Bennett was born in the town of Kent and was a son of the late David and Amanda (Tompkins) Bennett. He was born on January 1, 1861 and was 62 years, 6 months and 1 day old. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Hobby . After her death some years ago he married Mrs. Louise Hopkins who survives him. Mr. Bennett also leaves five sons and one daughter by his first marriage—Chauncey of Patterson, Byron, who lives near Chatham, Charles, who works in Poughkeepsie, Jacob and Orlando, and, wife of William Turner of Holmes. He also leaves three sisters, Mrs. Conklin of Somers, Elizabeth widow of Orlando Smith, of Towners, and Mrs. Saloma Ann Austin of Carmel. --- Deceased was well known through out this section, having worked on different farms in Southeast, Patterson, Kent and Carmel, but at the time of his death was in the employ of Contractor Haight, working on the new road between Carmel and Kent. He was a very capable man and always did good work on what ever job he was employed and was upright in his dealings. His wife has much sympathy in the lose which has come to her so suddenly by his death. --- The funeral services were held on Friday at 2 p.m. at Kent Cliffs Baptist Church, and the burial was in Halstead Cemetery. --- PUTNAM COUNTY REPUBLICAN, Saturday, July 7, 1923.
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