Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-04-24
DROWNED At RIPLEY.
A Man and Woman Lose Their
Lives in an Attempt to
Cross the Mississippi.
An Overloaded Boat Caused
the Accidental Third
Occupant Saved.

the ACClO0nt-A nlrQ
Occupant Saved.
News was telegra pied to the Tran
script Saturday evening, too late for
publication, of very sad drowning
accident that occurred in the Missis-
sippi at Ripley, ut about 3 O'Clock
Saturday afternoon. The victims
were Mrs. Mary E. Dayis, widow OF
the late Sergeant John Edward Da-
Wis, for mary years custodian OF the
government buildings at the old
military post Of Ft. Ripley. and a
Young. Scandinavian. named Van
Rasmussen. who had made his home
with the Davis family for some time.
The accident occurred while they
were attempting to cross the river
in small skiff, and was due to the
boat being OVERLOAD led for the rough
condition of the river at that time.
Mrs. Davis had been at the
Ripley store and made extensive
purchases Of groceries, and Rasmcs-
sen, and an elderly Swede
whose name We could not learn, &C.
companied her to manage the boat.
The boat was a small frail craft. not
intended for more than three persons
at most under favorable weather
conditions. In addition to the
weight of the three persons. the boat
was loaded with about 600 pounds
OF groceries, and as soon as 1t struck
the current of the river which was
ut that time very rough, the great
weight swamped it. and the occu-
pants were compelled to struggle
with the water for their lives. For
q short time they all chung to the
boat, but as it was evident that 1t
could not keep them afioat. Rasmus'
sen started to swim ashore with
Mrs. Davis. The water was ex-
trenely cold, and whether that had
caused cramps, or Mrs. Davis had in
some way prevented him from SWIM
ming is not known, but both ot them
sank shortly after leaving the boat,
when but about three rods from
shore.
The old gentleman clung to the
boat, which was able to hold his
weight after the greater part OF it's
load had been lost, and his shouts
for help were heard at the village,
more than a mile away, and he was
soon rescued, although in an ex-
hausted condition,
It is said that Rasmussen was to
blame for the accident, as Mrs. Davis
insisted that the boat was over
loaded, and requested him to make
two trips. This he refused to 40
saving that her fears were ground
less, and that it was perfectly safe.
He is said to have been a somewhat
reckless fellow, and was in the habit
of drinking considerably at times,
although it was not said that he had
been drinking at that time.
Parties began Immediately to
search for the bodies Of the unfOrtu-
nate ones, and have worked ever
since the accident occurred without
success. The current is very strong
at that place now, and it is probable
that the bodies have been washed
down stream and will lodge in some
of the large log jams, which are now
formed in the river.
Mrs. Davis leaves five children,
two sons and three daughters, the
Youngest a child but II years of age.
One of her daughters is married and
lives at Ripley village. Mrs. Davis
was to have gone to st. Paul today
tn attend to some matters relative
to pension which she had been try
ing to get. She has been a resident
of Ripley for a number OF years Oc-
cupying the building of the old mill
tary fort on the west side OF the
river, and was we'll acquainted with
and highly esteemed by large num-
Der of people in this city and Morri-
son county. OF Mr.. Rasmussen, but
very little is known. He claimed to
have relatives somewhere in North
Dakota but no one in Ripley knows
their names or their addresses.
Aside from the fact that he was
considered too reckless and drank
some, he was said to be a good
citizen, and as he was a strong built
man and a swimmer. he evidently
lost his life in an attempt to save
Mrs. Davis.
Fred McGonagle of RoyaltOn, who
will he remembered as a frst-class
base ball player by st. Cloud friends