Notes:

Lockport NY Union Sun Journal - 8/22/1928

After more than three hours of fruitiest effort with pulmotors
and other recuscitation methods, physicians at 1:30
o'clock this afternoon gave up hopes of restoring the life of
George S. Bennett, 55 years old. prominent Middleport business
man and Republican candidate for county treasurer, who plunged
into the barge canal with his automobile near the Main street
lift bridge in Middleport at 10 o'clock this morning.
With a faint hope that some
trace of life might still remain in
the man although he had been
under water more than thirty min-
utes, Drs. T. A. Addy and C. H.
Thomas of Middleport had worked
steadily over the body while a
large part of the village looked
helplessly on. The new inhalator
recently purchased for the Lock-
port fire department was rushed to
Middleport by automobile and a
pulmotor was sent from Buffalo
by airplane but neither proved of
any avail.
Swerves From Street
Bennett had been to inspect a
building which is under construc-
tion and was returning to his of-
fice at about 10 o'clock. Near the
Main street bridge over the Barge
canal which passes through the
village, his light sedan was seen
to swerve suddenly from the high-
way and plunge over the bank,
disappearing beneath the water.
A tow car was hurried to the
sport where the auto went over the
bank and a chain was attached to
the submerged machine by
Charles Kennedy, the Middle-
port scoutmaster who dove
and swam about the machine. The
sedan was then raised from the
water sufficiently so that Bennett's
body could be removed from a win-
dow.
It was thirty-two minutes after
the auto had taken its tragic plunge
before Bennett's body was raised
from the water to the bank where
the physicians were waiting to administer
first sld. -No pulse could
be found but knowing that life had
In the past been restored in cases
where persons have been under
water for longer periods, the physicians
assisted by willing spectators
began artificial recuscitation
while hurry calls were sent to
Lockport and Buffalo for pul-
motors.
Assistant Superintendent Of Fire
Alarms Frank J. Murtaugh and
Anthony J. Haley of the Lockport
Light, Heat and Power Company
responded in the latter's automo-
bile with the new inhalator. This
was purchased several months ago
by the Lockport fire Department
and ft waa the first time It had
aver been used. The Inhalator
was placed In operation for forty
minutes bat had no effect on the
lifeless form. Meanwhile a pnlmoter
arrived by airplane from
Buffalo and was tried with no better
results;
Give Up Last Hope.
At 1:M o'clock the tired medical
men finally gave up the hopes to
which they had so long and faithfully
clang and the body was removed
from the canal bank to the
Whltad and Hall undertaking; establishment.
Dr. F. A. Kittinger.
of Lockport coroner, was notified
and Issued a certificate of accidental
death.
Bennett was one of the best
known and. most active citizens of
Middleport and yesterday filed a
petition at the County Election
Bureau In Lockport as a Republican
candidate for county treasurer.
Ha was the first candidate
to proaenf ttmeelf for this office
from the eastern extremity of the
county In many years.
Starting In business In Middleport
under the firm name of
Compton and Bennett, produce
buyers. In 1905, Bennett continued
as a produce merchant until 1920
when he entered the lumber and
coal business In which he was stiil
actively engaged. He served as
village treasurer from 1911 to
1926 and at the time of his death
was president of the Board of Education,
a director of the Community
Trust Company of Middleport.
a director of the Middleport Loan
and Savings Association since 1922
and president of the Middleport
Improvement Association which
recently presented the village a new
street. Butler Parkway.
Fraternally. Bennett was a member
of the Cataract lodge of
Masons where he served as master
from 1901 to 1904 and was a member
Of too Medina Lodge of Elks.
Por many years he had been a
trustee of the Methodist Episcopal
church and had always been active
In every community activity.
was always a Republican.
Surviving are his wife, Winifred;
one soft, Spsncar Bennett of
Middleport and a daughter,
Beverley Smith of Medina.

George married ENNIST, Winnifred about 1900. Winnifred was born in Jul 1873 in West Shokan, NY; died on 31 Aug 1945 in Medina, Orleans County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. BENNETT, Bernice was born about 1902 in New York; and died.
2. BENNETT, Spencer H was born about 1907 in Middleport, Niagara County, NY; died on 11 Nov 1968 in Medina, Orleans County, NY.