Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1897 — A Sad Accident. [ARTICLE]

A Sad Accident.

A Little Child Loses Its Life m a Cistern. Tuesday’s Daily. A very distressing accident occurred soon after noon, today. The infant son of Rose Platt, who lives with her father Chas Platt, on Van Rensselaer Street, had eaten its dinner and left the table before the rest of the family had finished. In a few minutes the child was missed, and being searched for was found in a cistern in J. F. Iliff's lot adjoining. A fence divides the two lots, but the child could walk into the street and from there into the Iliff lot. The child’s mother missed the baby and went aroti'nd Mr. Iliff’s house searching for it. She stopped on the side opposite the cistern and asked the Iliffs if Jakey was there. Will Iliff immediately thought of the cistern, w’hich was only partly covered, with a single plank, and rushing out he saw the little fellow lying in the bottom of the cistern, on his face. At almost the same instant the mother arrived from around the house. Mr. Iliff was too frighted to move but Albert Markham, who boards with Mr. Platt, rushed up and jumping into the cistern lifted the baby out. The water in the cistern is just a foot deep, and the child would probably have arisen to its feet and not drowned, but it evidently struck its head on the stone bottom of the cistern, in falling and was stunned and rendered unconscious and so unable to help itself. A dark mark across the cheek showed whereat probably struck in falling. Dr. Berkley was called immediately and made every effort to recuscitate the child, but without success. Its age was 1 year, 5 months and two days. Little Jakey as he was called though his right name was Elsworth, was a very bright and merry little fellow, and quite a neighborhood favorite. His funeral will be held tomorrow (Wednesday), at 2 o’clock p. M. at Mr. Platt’s residence; religious services by Rev. R. D. Utter.