Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1915 — Several Narrow Escapes From Drowning. [ARTICLE]

Several Narrow Escapes From Drowning.

A few narrow escapes from drowning have occurred here since the high water has made diving and swimming in the river so popular. Howard Clark came near losing his life Tuesday afternoon, when he became exhausted in the water, and only prompt action on the part of some of his companions in going to his rescue saved him from a watery grave. ■ j _ ■

Wednesday afternoon Clifford Ham and little sister, Mary Anna, both came near losing their lives just west of the creamery bridge. A rope or trotline was tied about the little girl’s waist and Clifford was teaching her to swim in the more .shallow water near Harvey W. Wood's south lawn. In some manner, the line got tangled up in Clifford's feet and both were^ taken down stream by the current, which was not nearly so stiong on that side of the river as on the south. They were carried down perhaps 400 feet, when the boy managed to catch hold of some willows and stop himself. In the meantime some of the onlookers shouted for help, and young George Fate jumped in and rescued the little girl, whom it is said was unconscious when first taken from the water.

11 is great fun, of course, to sport about in the water these days, but it is dangerous sport to some extent also. Small children should not be permitted to wade in at the edge of the river at all, and the oldest ones should use due care in their antics, as the water is deep and accidents are likely to occur at any time.