Ilion High School - Class of 1937

Ilion Sentinel - September 28, 1939

Condition of J. Powers Unknown

Article 7

The condition of John Powers, son of Mi. and Mrs. Leo Powers remained unchunged yesterday, according to a telegram received from Mr. Powers, who is with his son. He stated the boy has not yet been placed in a cast and that extent of possible internal injuries will not be known until Saturday.

Powers, a junior at Cornell University, is in an Ithaca hospital under careful doctor's care, following a 30 to 40-foot fall last Thursday night from a balcony which resulted in his suffering a broken vertebra of the spine. The fall occurred in his fraternity house.

The accident, which took place from all reports while Powers was walking in his sleep, brought fellow students to the scene, but Powers with presence of mind insisted that they leave him where he was until medical aid could be called. This action probably saved his life, according to doctors, since improper handling might have resulted in the severing of the spinal cord and certain death.

Details of the fall were lacking. The young man had returned to college only the day before the accident. His parents left for Ithaca, immediately on hearing of the injury to their son.

During the past summer Powers had served as waterfront director at Camp Russell, the Boy Scout camp at White Lake, and had conducted the annual canoe trip of the General Herkimer Council through the Fulton chain of lakes. He also won his way to the finals of the Munger Cup golf match at the Mohawk Valley country club opposing his father who defeated him.

Powers has received many high awards for both Red Cross and Boy Scout work.