R. C. Shimmim Drowned in River; Prominent Business Man Goes Down While Bathing Friday Afternoon; Another life was added to the long toll of the San Joaquin last Friday afternoon when Robert C. Shimmin, member of the firm of Shimmin Bros. suddenly disappeared while in swimming. Like many similar drownings that have gone before, it was without adequate explanation and has to be added to the list that has given the San Joaquin the name of the "treacherous river." "Bob," as he was affectionately known to all Patterson and the West Side in general, had sold an automobile to E. Delnero and late Friday afternoon took the car out for a trial spin, combining business with pleasure by throwing a bathing suit in the car as he left, planning to temper the warm afternoon with a swim in the cool river. Arriving at the foot of Fig Avenue, he found another party also preparing for a dip, including the Ramazzini boys, one of whom dove in just ahead of him and started across the stream. Their father was standing on the bank watching the bathers, and saw Bob start after his son with the intention of crossing also. Suddenly, when part way across, Shimmin was seen to throw up his arm and sink from sight. Mr. Ramazzini thought that he was playing at first and did not become alarmed, but when the swimmer came partly to the surface again and then disappeared for good, he called his son back and an attempt was made to locate the drowning man, without result. Word was quickly brought to town and J. H. Evans and F. S. Harrison were the first to respond. They dived in an effort to locate the body, but were unsuccessful.

All Night Search Begun
That marked the beginning of an all night search, which was carried on with the aid of drags and dynamite, large charges being exploded without effect. Various kinds of hooks and drags were brought into play and it was one of these that was finally successful at 8:30 Saturday morning when the body was located at the bottom of a deep hole about fifty feet from where Bob had disappeared. The hole was between twenty and twenty-five feet in depth and the body had evidently drifted to the deepest part and remained there.

Large Number Gather To Pay Last Tribute Friday s tragedy caused a tinge of sorrow over the entire community and universal expressions of sympathy with the bereaved family were heard, to be shown further Monday afternoon when the many intimate friends and business associates of Mr. Shimmin gathered in large numbers to pay tribute to his memory. The remains were taken from the Davis & Evans parlors to the family home early in the afternoon, and it was there that the long procession formed to escort the remains to the Presbyterian church, the column being headed by fraternal brothers, marching on foot, and including a line of automobiles several blocks long.

Prominent Resident Summoned by Death Community in Mourning; A pall of mourning has been cast over the entire community of Patterson by the sudden death last Wednesday morning of Mrs. Floyd St. John, who succumbed to an attack of plural pneumonia after an illness of but a few days. Mrs. St. John had just returned to Patterson from a holiday visit, to San Francisco, where she contracted a severe cold, which later developed into pneumonia. Still weak from the ravages of influenza, and not as yet fully recovered from a nervous breakdown which she suffered, after weeks of strenuous volunteer service nursing influenza victims at the Patterson Emergency Hospital during the worst of the epidemic here, Mrs. St. John did not have the vitality to withstand the ravages of the disease, and although every effort was made to prolong her life, science could not avail. The end came early Wednesday morning with Mr. St. John and daughters, Marion and Lucile, at the bedside.

An Indefatigable Worker
In the death of Mrs. St. John the community has suffered an irreparable loss, as she was not only tireless in giving her services unstintingly to any cause which promised for the public good, but was one of the most active workers in the local chapter of the Red Cross. Since its organization here Mrs. St. John not only served as treasurer, but was an active member on many committees. When the influenza epidemic made its appearance in Patterson, she was one of the first advocates of the establishment of an emergency hospital, and on its opening devoted her entire time to managing the kitchen. By her unfailing cheerfulness, and inexhaustible energy, she was a constant inspiration to her fellow workers and the afflicted. Shortly before the hospital closed, Mrs. St. John suffered a nervous collapse, brought on by her sacrifices to duty, and since that time she never fully recovered her strength. Her will to serve to the best of her ability has graven her memory beyond forgetfulness in the hearts of all those with whom she came in contact. At the time of her death Mrs. St. John was 37 years of age, and had resided in Patterson three years. She was born in Joplin, Missouri and is survived by her husband, who is engaged in the film business at San Francisco, her daughters, Marion and Lucile, her mother and brother, to whom the sympathy of the entire community is extended.

Great RR Builder Dies One Hundred Years Old; John S. Wolfe, Sr.; At the age of more than 100 John S. Wolfe, father of J. Wolfe, Jr., of Patterson, passed away at the Birchmont Hospital of Omaha, Neb. The sad news was received by Mr. Wolfe here last week.. With the death of Mr. Wolfe, Sr. the life of a great American railroad builder has expired, of a man who ranked with Hill and other great pioneers of the West. One hundred years of active life were brought to a close, the result of a fall at Christmas time, in which he broke the muscles of his kneecap and was confined to bed— for the first time in his life. He built railroads for sixty-two years. He built his last road in 1903, at the age of 85. Mr. Wolfe was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, on October 5th, 1818.

Came West in 1854
He came west in 1854, and built the Chicago & Northwestern, then the Illinois & Iowa, from Clinton to Cedar Rapids. He then went to Ottumwa and constructed the Burlington from Ottumwa to Council Bluffs, completed on January 1, 1868. In 1870 he went into partnership with his son John S., Jr., the both being in business together until 1906. The next road, built by father son, was the one from Moberly, Mo. to Ottumwa, and the Ottumwa-Cedar Rapids railroad between those two points.. It was afterwards bought by the Milwaukee road. The deceased was one of the first contractors on the Pennsylvania Central. He also built several hundred miles of the Baltimore & Ohio before coming west. Also built by him were part of the Rock Island, the Chicago & Alton, 150 miles of the Kansas Pacific, 100 miles of the Wisconsin Central, the Des Moines & Fort Dodge, the Central Iowa from Peoria to Keithburg, the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern, now Rock Island; the New Orleans & Northeastern Meridian, from Mississippi to New Orleans.