Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-15
Assistant Secretary Of z. NJ. q.
A. Drowned Yesterday.
The BODY HAS BEEN. RECOVERED
An Attack of Cramps supposed to Have
Been the Cause-Was an Exem-
plsry Young Man and Bee
loved by All.
ITrom Fridays Daily.l
F.1s.lMsl-

Burt Hughes, assistant secretary OF
the Ottumwa y. NJ. G. A., was drowned
in the Des Moines river just off the
north bank of the second island above
the dam yesterday evening between 5
and s o'clock. Although searching
party was organized and sent to the
scene OF the accident within short
time after it occurred, the body was
not found and the search abandoned
until this morning.
Mr.. Hughes, i'll company with Wal
ter Linton, had gone up the river to go
in bathing. He attempted to swim
from the island to the north bank of
the river. distance OF about forty
yards. When about half way across
he sank, probably from an attack OF
cramps. Mr.. Linton was unable to
reach his companion until after he had
gone down for the last time. He mott
fled the police and friends, of the de-
ceased, who Immediately went to the
scene of the accident.
Mr.. Hughes was considered one OF
the strongest and most expert swim
mers in the city, and the accident
which befell him yesterday was a
wgreat surprise to those who knew
!. him. He has been in the habit of GO
ing to the river frequently for the pllr-
!. pose of indulging in his favori,e sport,
Y and has often competed in swimming
races with local aquarians. He and
! Mr.. Linton left the y. NJ. G. A. build
!, ing yesterday afternoon about 4
!, O'clock, and went to the boat house
where they secured boat. They row.
ed to the second island. the river in
"a; no;
lite spots for bathing. The river at the
head of the island is very shallow
with a gradually sloping bottom
Bnrt waded and swan up stream from
the head of the island several yards
and then remarked to Mr.. Linton that
he. was going TO swim to the north
bank of the river. Mr.. Linton remon.
strated with him, telling him that il
was dangerous, as the river is very
deem in many places between the isl
and the north bank. Burt did moi
heed the protest OF his friend, only re.
marking that "a fellow wasn't much
good that couldn't swim across there.
He had reached a point near the mid
die of the stream when Mr.. Linton
VINO was on the island, saw him TURF
on his back and after floating q few
minutes. shout: ''EIelp. Badly
help!" Linton does not swim, but he
immediately got into boat and start
ed towards Hughes whom he was no
quite certain was in earnest in hi.
pleadings for assistance. Just thel
Burt was seen to throw his hand:
above the water and sink. a few sec
onds later he re-appeared and agar
called for help, but Linton could mo-
reach him in time. Realizing the seri
business of the affair, Linton AT once
started to getsassstance TO rescue TIL,
body. He rowed to the south bank O
the river, secured horse and bugg,
of neighborine farmer and drove tt
sthe city. B. c. Wade, secretary of tn,
y. NJ. c. A., Coroner John O'Donnell
and the police, were summoned
Hughes parents We're also appraised o
s.the misfortune which had oefalle1
Etheir son. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Hughe
have been almost Frustrated from
bgricf ever since, and are today in
critical condition.
Several expert swimmers and divers
.including Frank Dawson, W. Knight
EW d. Stevison, Dave Criley, Byron
| Utecht, James CURLY. Ahner Birney
b Hal Dubois, Dan Steck, Harold Ham
Snett and L. II. Armstrong, spent tive
Ehours in the water diving and search
Fling for the body. There were severa
bother persons in the volunteer search
ising party last evening, who followed
tfhe swimmers with boats. The opinion
OF those who were in the water las