The tragic death of sawmill owner William Knapp

 

 

 

Stratford 1922

William Knapp, age 64 years old, owned a sawmill on the west side of the East Canada Creek at the Hawes Rd.. While working at the mill he boarded at the home of Guy Hawes which was near the mill. Due to a bridge collapse due to high water a few days earlier, Knapp was using  a raft to cross the creek by pulling himself along a rope tied on both sides. 

 

On this day Knapp left the Hawes home and started across the water on a raft. The East Canada Creek was very turbulent and the channel being narrow caused the current to be swift and deep. Two young girls, Laura Winter, and her friend the Candell girl were on the opposite bank of the creek at the point where William was expected to land. They reported that he lost control of the raft when it was well out in the water. They heard him say he guessed he would have to swim the rest of the way. At that point he plunged into the water. The girls saw him struggle momentarily and then disappear, being carried over the dam and on down the stream in the swirling water. That was the last that was seen of him. He was an expert swimmer, so it was assumed the current of the stream was too swift for him to navigate. 

 

Searching begin as soon as the girls reported his accident. It was thought he may be lodged below the dam, or had been able to get ashore at some point after he fell from the raft. Search parties looked for Mr. Knapp for two weeks. The body of Mr. Knapp was found 1 mile below the dam on April 29th. A nephew, Charles Knapp found the body submerged with his hands and legs around a rock as if holding on while still alive. His watch had stopped at 4:27 p.m.