The people of this place were shocked on Thursday last at the announcement that Mr. Robert Murray had been drowned, and his family suddenly left grief stricken. Mr. Murray resided with his family about one mile north-west of this village, on the Norwood and Norfolk road, on the west side of the Racket river.

It appears that Mr. Murray, about noon, Friday, went to the bridge, which spans the brook in the highway, about a hundred rods north of his residence and near the Racket river for the purpose of inspecting the bridge, and in some manner fell into the river, which, at the place where his body was found, was about three and one-half feet deep. An examination of the spot leads to the belief that he must have slipped from the east end of the bridge, and in falling grasped some bushes on the bank, but was unable to remove himself. His body was discovered in the water, by some Norfolk people who were passing and notified the family. The friends and relatives were at once notified. The funeral services were held at the family residence Sunday afternoon at 9:00 o’clock, Rev. Mr. Kellough of Massena, officiating. Burial at Riverside. Mr. Murray was naturally of a very cheerful and genial disposition and was widely known and respected. He came to this country in the year 1861, and has always resided in this county. In 1858 he married Ann Henderson, who survives him, together with two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Adelia Shaw and Mrs. Eva Rutherford of Madrid, James L. and George E. Murray.

Mr. Murray was 69 years of age, and during the past year had been a sufferer from asthma and heart disease. The bereaved family have the sympathy of this community in their sad affliction. --Norwood News.

(From the Friday, April 10, 1903 edition of the Potsdam Herald, courtesy of the Northern New York Library Network @ http://news.nnyln.net).