Norman Gregory, 48, Taberg farmer who resided one and a half miles east of that village on the Rome road, lost his life Saturday afternoon while swimming in the basin of the second falls of Fall Brook located a short distance from the junction of the stream and Fish Creek near the dam of the city's.
Norman Gregory, 48, Taberg farmer who resided one and a half miles east of that village on the municipal water system. The spot is one of the most inaccessible in that section of the county, situated east of the Coal Hill road, four and a half miles from Taberg.
The body was brought out by John Strong, local undertaker, after it had been drawn up an 80-foot sheer cliff with ropes almost 12 hours after the tragedy occurred. Access to the falls was made through dense woods and underbrush and through which state troopers and others were forced to break trails. Members of the party took their lives in their hands by lowering themselves from the brink of the chasm to the base of the falls by a rope and in total darkness.
Mr. Gregory accompanied by his son, Russell, 16, his cousin, John Gregory, and George Corbin of Clinton, started out Saturday afternoon in search of a place for a picnic planned for Sunday. After working their way down the chasm they arrived at the foot of the falls which has a drop of approximately 65 feet. All but Corvin disrobed and went into the pool which is about 14 feet deep.
After swimming for a time they returned to the bank and dressed when Mr. Gregory decided to go in again with his clothes on against the advice of his cousin, John. Swimming across the pool to the spray of the falls he was heard to yell to his cousin, who sensed nothing wrong and replied he was not coming in again. John Gregory heard him call for help and plunged into the pool to bring him out.
He managed to grab the drowning man's arm as he was going down the second time and pull to a spot where there was about five feet of water. here Norman Gregory locked his arms about his rescuer's neck and a struggle ensued under the water. John managed to break the hold and get him back into shallow water again. Once more the drowning man took hold of his cousin and the latter broke his grip just as he was becoming exhausted.
After the last struggle Norman Gregory sank in deep water. John Gregory was seized with cramps and barely managed to hang on to the rocky side of the pool until he could regain his breath. The drowning occurred at about 4:30 p.m., and it took two hours to get back to Taberg to telephone the Rome police.
The local department notified the Oneida Barracks of the state troopers which go tin touch with Corporal McGrath and Trooper Ireland of the Camden patrol who were doing police duty at Sylvan Beach. Detective Joseph Nero and Patrolman John Plunkett left for the scene with grappling equipment and with the aid of the two troopers and Leon Graves of this city brought the body out of the pool in a short time.
Dr. Dan Mellen acted fro Dr. H. F. Hubbard, coroner, who was out of town and the body was given in charge of Undertaker John J. Strong.
Tragedy had dogged the steps of Gregory's family for a number of years. Many years ago a younger brother was accidentally killed when an "empty" gun went off. Another brother was crushed to death by a tree he was felling in the woods.
Mrs. Gregory was born in Annsville 48 years ago, a son of Joshua and Viola Letts Gregory. He was married to Miss Maude Russell on June 30, 1909, in the Town of Lee. He was a member of the Baptist faith and the Order of Foresters. He was a farmer.
Surviving besides his parents and the widow there are one daughter, Dorothy, one son Russell, both at home; two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Forgejohn of Lee Center and Mrs. Dora Spillsbury of Arizona.
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