Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1896 — A LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT. [ARTICLE]

A LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT.

A Young Man Drowned Jn The Iroquois River. A lamentable accident occdred last Saturday afternoon, in the death, by drowning, of an estimable young man, a student in St. Joseph’s College, named Flqrtmce Tunney. - He and a mjtmber of companions from the college went bathing in the river at what is known as Willow Bend, near Joseph Nagel’s place, and about two miles from town. He was not a very good swimmer, and as he stepped off of a steep, slippery bank into a very deep hole, he appears to have lost his presence of mind, and was unable to saye himself. Only one of his companions was a good swimriier, E. Walters, and he went manfully to the drowning boy’s assistance, but the latter seized Mr. Walters, after the manner, of drowning men, and dragged him under and it was only by the most strenuous efforts that he escaped drowning also. And his back was badly scratced and locerated by the dr owning] boy’s efforts to seize him. Mr. Tanney’s body remained in the waier about two hours, when it was recovered by Joseph Nagel and two assistants in a aow-boat Mr. Nagel used as a hook or grapple, the iron instrument used by thrashers in cleaning cinders out of their engines. He found the body in 10 or 12 feet of water. The boy wore a bathing suit, but when recovered, it was found to be tom entirely off, except the belt around the waist. The accident occured about a quarter of a mile below the “Deep Hole” in which the young Zerdan boy was drowned, some years ago, snd whose body was also recovered by Mr. Nagel.

The drowned boy came from Fort Recovery, Ohio, but being one of the “regular” or religious students, he made his home at the college. A brother of the deceased arrived Monday evening, and by him the body was taken back to Fort Recovery for burial. The young man’s mother is living but his father was killed by lightning, a few years ago.Coroner Wright held an inquest Saturday evening, and from the facts elicited will find a verdict of “accidental drowning.”