The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-09
Drowning of Three Young Men.

Late Saturday afternoon, three young
men, named August King, Peter Ohlen
and Nels Bohman, while returning to this
city from Davenport. in skiff, were car
ried under the bow of fat boat near the
old round house near by the water works.
The skiff was upset, but Ohlen hung to
the boat and drifted down to Weyerhauser
& Denkman's raft, where he climbed out
King and Bohman struck out for the
shore, and the latter reached it in safety.
When about so feet from shore King
commenced calling for help, but some
boys who were standing on the shore
thought he was joking, and made no at
tempt to save him. He disappeared about
80 feet from shore. Efforts were at once
made to recover the body, and by diving
Jack Quinlan finally found it-though he
was too tired to bring it to shore. 1t was
recovered by man named Charles Bron-
ston, working at the Buford pillow works.
Justice Halves acted as coroner, and
summoned the following jury: J. H.
Kaufman, foreman; R. W. Latin, james
Hardin, NJ H. McGavran, John Cru,
baugh, Jacob Wolenhaupt, Henry
Fullendorf, VIM. Zeigler, NJ. A. Gross
Peter Zeigler, John st. Claire. and VIM
Rowe.
A verdict of accidental drowning wa;
returned.
The young man was about II years o.
age. and a son of Swan King, the shoe
maker. He was buried at o'clock Sun.
day afternoon.
On Sunday afternoon, John Brockmar
son of Jacob Brockman, Geo. Schneider
George Shearer and George Cash, all boy
about Is years of age, were fishing ant
bathing in Rock river about tire,
miles above Milan. About o clock Brock
man and Schneider found large hol
trough, which they converted into boat
and attempted to cross the river. Whel
about half way across the boat upset ant
the boys were thrown into the water
Although neither could swim they strug
gled in the water for some time, calling TO
help, but having their clothes on they sool
disappeared. The two boys on shore no
being able to swim could not assist them
All the boys lived in the southeastern par
Of the city, on the bluff
Later.-The above was the story tol,
last evening in regard to the accident
The facts, as brought out at the coroner
inquest, are somewhat different. Tn
bodies were found about IL o'cloc
last night, in deep hole, where they wen
down, near Cars dam-about one mil
and a half above Milan. When foun
the bodies were clinched together, and
was with difficulty that they could be SEP
arated. They were then taken to tn
house of Mr. Jacob Brockman, on tn
bluff and Justice Halves, in the absence c
Acting Coroner Hayden, was notified t
hold an inquest. He went out to Nj
Brockman's house about o'clock thi
morning, and summoned the following
jury:
Chas.iW. Halves, foreman; John Sherel
D, T. Kinney, Thomas Campbell, Georg
Schneider, Henry Bilgeshausen. Geo. A
Darling, A, Glockhot, Wolfgaug Wolfruu
Geo. Bollinger, Peter Wiese and Alfre
Darling.
1t appears that there were FIVE boys
the party, as follows: George Sherer, age
IA years; George Kursch, 16 years; Jaco
J Sherer, II years, and the two boys VII
, were drowned, John Brockman and Ge,
} Schneider. aged Is yea5 each,
They all had their clothes off and wei
. bathing; young Brockman and Schneidt
2 were in On old dug out" and had paddle
2 some distances from the shore, b.
= did not think the water was over the
/ heads; they jumped out into deep hol
e neither could swim; they clinched eaC
each other, and, after struggling sho
i time, both disappeared. Those on sho
! could not swim, but they waded out uni
3 the water reached their necks, and we
8 then compelled to return to the shore
; A verdict of accidental drowning vi
0 returned by the jury
s The funeral of the unfortunate bo
took place from the German Luther;
. church at o'clock this afternoon,
r Mildness couquers-and hence it is IT,