Case of the Accidental Drowning
October 20, 2009 by admin
Filed under Case Files of Detective Nose, Medium Two Minute Mysteries, Two Minute Mysteries
I was not quite sure as to why I was being called down to investigate an accidental drowning at Sandyside River but fortunately, it was a sunny day and I could not think of a better place to be. Who knows, maybe once I was done, I would get a little fishing in.
When I arrived, there were a few police officers and a small gathering of onlookers. Two of the officers were standing on the public docks talking to what looked like an extremely well tanned gentleman who was wearing a bathing suit. Next to them in the water was a canoe that looked like it had seen better days.
After approaching the trio, I introduced myself to the tanned fellow, who was looking very upset, and asked him what had happened.
“It’s simply terrible Inspector! My friend Jim and I were out canoeing when I suggested that we give the Sunnyside rapids a go,” said the distraught man as he pointed in a southern direction towards the rapids. “Jim was a little concerned as he had never been in a canoe before today but I told him there was no need to worry, I would steer, all he had to do was paddle. Unfortunately, the rapids were a little more difficult than I remembered. I‘m not sure exactly what happened or when he fell out, all that I know is that when I got to the end of the rapids, I turned around and he was not there.”
I looked down at the canoe and observed that there were a couple of lifejackets and one wooden paddle with a large crack within the blade. I was just about to inquire as to how the paddle became damaged when the man stated, “Hell, I didn’t even notice that. My paddle is broken. I guess I must have cracked it on one of the rocks while I was traversing the rapids.”
“Yes, that is possible, “ I said. “But it is more likely that it cracked when you used it to hit Jim!”
Why did Inspector Nose suspect that Jim’s drowning was not an accident?
More Two Minute Mysteries
Don't miss another one of our free bi-monthly Mystery Digest newsletters. Subscribe and receive two minute mysteries, mystery puzzles and other interesting articles two times a month.
Wow! Cool! I love 2-minute mysteries. I used to drive a school bus and give these mysteries to the students to pass the time. They loved them. I ran out.
Now I teach high school drop-outs and hope to start a fever.
where are the answers?
oops i got them now. great one
Wow! That one was pretty good!
WHERE ARE THE ANSWERS?!
oh. found it.
Normally, yes, the person in the back is the one to steer – however, while traversing rapids, the person in the FRONT is the one who must steer because THAT’S the person closest to see the rocks coming up out of the frothing water. I know this from personal experience as a Boy Scout attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Love the stories, but this one smells a little fishy to me….
Where are the answers??
Answers are provided at the end of each story via a flash plug-in. You need the Adobe flash player installed in your browser to see them.
I will try and change this in the near future.
~Jane
Where is the solution or answers?! … Quack!
Answers are provided at the end of each story via a flash plug-in. You need the Adobe flash player installed in your browser to see them.
~Jane
Haha… i was so good/… it was my first time here and i enjoyed.. so cool…
hmm.. my mind is still on the question: “What is a canoe…”, ejeje.. so silly of me… well, now i know… ^___^
hmmm… detectives should know more about terminologies… thanks…
Loved “Accidental Drowning”. You really had to pay attention on this one as the cracked paddle was actually a red herring. Good one, Jane!
very good
This site is really enjoying…
I started to love detective stories lately that’s why i’m enjoying…
Hm.. That doesn’t make any sense. The person steering would have been in front, to see the rocks and such. So the paddle broken on the rocks is a possible answer. However, there were a couple of life jackets, if Jim was wearing one then his chances of drowning would have been slim, so this means that the “suspect” did not give Jim a life jacket purposely, hence there are two or a couple (Which generally means two) and there should only be one. If there were three, then there would be a witness. I don’t think this story’s conclusion is correct. However, the suspect did kill Jim, just not as stated.
I thought that was the answer, but I’ve never been caoneing in my life so i wasn’t sure that wheather if to steer you have to be in the font or back. But at least I had the answer^^ I love these two-minute mysterys.^^
I DONT GET IT
For the record, in layman’s terms, the person steering the canoe is at the back. The story is logical.
While it is correct to say that it is appropriate for the front person to steer when negotiating rapids, and for the indicated reasons, if we are to accept the version as offered, the decision to attempt the rapids was AFTER they had entered the canoe, and assumed their positions. Jim was assured that he could take the front position as he was the novice. An admission by the killer that he was in the rear would certainly have cinched it however.
Well done Jane!
These are PERFECT for our Summer Library Reading Programs! We’ll have a minute mystery display and show case one myster per week for the children to solve and place their answer into the tub. We’ll draw one winner a week from those who have guessed correctly! Prizes are free theater tickets, day passes to the Y, etc.
Thank you!
Fantastic! Glad to see them put to use.
My first reaction was that Jim was telling the truth. It seems like a plausible enough story to me. As an inspector I would be suspicious of the unused life jackets in the back, but it would not be the first time people do not use appropriate safety devices. The cracked paddle is also suspicious but I can see how Jim may crack it on the rocks like he indicated. If I was investigating this scene I would take Jim at his word and begin looking for his friend. Upon finding his friend I would inspect the injuries and draw conclusions based on the findings. Until then I would trust Jim.
My First thought was that i know very little about canoeing, but i also know that rapids dont crack or break padels that easey. Once the Detective questionsed him, his response is what set the tone and gave away his actions. The mans first remark that hinted to the detective and me was that he was the driver, and yet he sat in front. that was strike one. Strike two was that his paddle was completely broken and his friends was just cracked.
On the other hand, he could be telling the truth and just be shakin up about the accident, which can cause the story be be a little shaky
Was not to sure if you wanted an e-mail for the answer. First off i know nothing about canoeing, so that already stumped me. I thought the survivor was in the front and that he would have had to have turned around to strike his so called friend. What also tipped off that it was murder was the life jackets that were left behind, if your wearing a life jacket your chances of drowning are greatly reduced. The fact that the tanned fellow did not see his buddy fall is suspicious also. All in all the cracked paddle was the ultimate giveaway for me. What i learned from this short story is to look closely at your work and look for more than an obvious answer.
I loved it❤❤
LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEe
this is really cool but i am stuck in school
I figured out what happened to Jim! I’m not going to tell because a I’d ruin it for a lot of people!
I kind’a knew the answer.
I don’t know if this page is still active, but I would love to see the answers. Since adobe flash player no longer works or exists, it’s impossible to see the answers so i wonder if this could be updated. Trying to show this to my students for a detective quest they are going to be doing soon but can’t if I don’t know the answer given.