The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-08-24
FRANK WARNER DROWNED.
Story OF the Drowning and Recov-
cry of the Body. .r--

Around the ice breakers just above
the railroad bridge across the Blue Earth
river the spring freshets, acting on the
the sandy bottom tor years, have scoop
ed out deep boles in the river bed. In
these places the larger boys who resort
to this river to enjoy the pleasures OF
swimming are fond of diving aud smaller
boys delight in showing their bravado by
crossing to the ice breakers. The weak
er lads content themselves with padd-
ling about in the shallow water near the
shore and further up the river. Salur-
day afternoon a number of boys whose
ages range from nine to fourteen years
were swimming about this part of the
river. Among these was little Frank
Warner, the ten year old son of Mrs.
Warner, a respectable woman who lives
back of the Jorgensou place on South
Front street close to the slough and
barely supports herself and three chill
dren by taking in washing. Frank was
the oldest child and was a bright lad.
He had not yet learned to swim and
two of his young companions undertook
to take him across the hole in the river
bottom to the upper ice breaker, the
boy resting hand on each of the other
lads. When about half way to the ice
breaker the two swimmers, whether in
sport or Tor some other reason, released
themselves from Franks hold. The
latter grabbed one of the boys and pull
ed him down to such an extent that he
was obliged to push Frank off to save
himself. Ali the boys around then heard
Frank give scream and, throwing up
his hands, saw him sink in six or eight
feet of water to rise no more. This was
at 2:30 o'clock. The other boys were
froirhtopaI and did nOfhinn fn try In
save their comrade. No one in the
neighborhood was informed, bat young
man who heard of the accident went to
the cement works and telephoned to the
police for aid.
Chief Fowler, alderman Zimmerman
and FREE Press reporter immediately
drove to the scene of the drowning as
fast as horse could go. On the way
Mayor Pfau and Aid. Pitcher were over
taken and Joined in the search for the
body, aided by a young man named
Morrison. A graphing hook had been
brought and after some delay scow
without oars was obtained and the search
for the body began. This did not re-
quire more than few moments as sew
eral boys pointed out the exact place
where the Warner boy sank. One of
the searchers, looking from the railroad
DFluke, ebplcu hDiIo ODlSCI dI lu6 DOI-
tom of the river, by the aid of the re-
Fiction of the light, and the body was
soon brought to the surface. 1t had been
in the water over an hour and life was
extinct. Like all corpses of drowned
people it was quite black and somewhat
distorted. The current was so sluggish
that the body had not moved since going
down. 1t was Immediately clothed and
taken to the mothers home. The grief
of the latter was that which only moth
er can know when her frst-born is, al
most without warming, brought home a
corpse and laid at her door.
1t was not found necessary to hold an
inquest. 1t does not appear that blame
can be attached to anyone for the sad
accident. This river has not claimed
many victims, though every few years
one is added to the list. A number of
years ago two brothers were drowned
just above the place where this drown
ing occurred.
The funeral took place Monday.