Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 181, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1915 — SEARCH FOR DROWNED BOY UNSUCCESSFUL [ARTICLE]

SEARCH FOR DROWNED BOY UNSUCCESSFUL

Three Days’ Search For Body of Delos Woodworth Without Result— Diver Gives Up Search.

So far the search of the Iroquois river for the body of Delos Woodworth, who met death Friday afternoon by falling from the creamery bridge and drowning, has been unsuccessful. The professional diver quit work for the day Saturday at 5 o’clock, reaching a point a little below the Mrs. William Washburn property, but without results. A raft was built by others and the stream was dragged with drag hooks 'below where the diver was working, but their work was also unsuccessful. Sunday the work was resumed. The diver commenced the work where he left off Saturday evening and worked all day, reaching the sand banks about two miles down stream in the evening. The water at that point was muddy, which prevented the diver seeing anything in the water and on his advice he was allowed to give up the work and he returned to his home in Chicago. In the morning a 32 foot raft was constructed at the Kohler property and manned with a crew of 18, fifteen of whom were provided with long poles on which had been placed long hooks on one end. The raft was wide enough to reach across the stream at most points and was allowed to float down stream, the crew holding the grab hooks so that they would drag the bottom. A swimmer at each end of the raft looked after the shallow banks. The raft as far as the Lamson bridge, about 8 miles down stream, and nearly every inch of the river bottom was searched, but without result. At that point the river became very deep and wide, so that the search had to be given up. Row boats followed the raft and thoroughly searched the bank. At the Lamson bridge a net was placed across the stream, so that if the body has not yet passed that point the net will catch it when it rises to the surface and floats down stream.

In the afternoon another body of searchers resorted to dynamite and exploded it in the stream in hopes that if the body had escaped the other searchers to bring it to the surface by this means. They began at the creamery bridge and exploded sticks of dynamite every few feet, ending their work as darkness approached at the Kohler place about a mile from the bridge. Hundreds of sightseers thronged the river banks all day watching the diver and other searchers, and many were here in automobiles from surrounding towns. This Monday morning Fred .Hemphill and others went to Thayer to get his motor launch, and it was placed on the river this afternoon and a thorough search of the banks of the river is being made. The motion of the wheel stirs up the water a great deal and it is hoped that the stirring up of the stream will result in raising the body to the surface if the boat gets hear it. Others in boats have also been keeping up the search, and three power launches will be at work on the river this afternoon. This morning the raft was lengthened so as to reach across the wider stretch of water encountered down stream, and with a crew of twentyseven men the search was resumed, but at this writing no trace of the 'body has been found. The dynamiters also started work today again and had reached the clak banks by noon.

Mrs. W. L. Bott’ left this morning for Linden, where she will visit with friends for several days. , The county commissioners met 1 in regular monthly session this morning. The trustees are also holding their meeting today. ■Trustees who have not yet published their annual estimates should have their copy ready for the next issue. The bridge on the Mt. Ayr road, which has been closed to travel during the construction of a new one, was completed last Thursday, but nothing has been done towards making approaches to the bridge, and it cannot be used. The commissioners will probable make arrangements for the' approaches at their‘present session.

The • Lafayette Red Sox defeated the combined teams of Delphi and Flora 6to 2. Peru downed Logansport in a sensational battle 2 to 1 tn ten innings, not a marker crossing the platter untn the tenth frame, when Peru sent three runs across and Logansport came badc with one. The Riversides, of Lafayette, with Ricks chucking, were defeated by the fast Williamsport team 7 to 5. Ricks was knocked off the mound.