Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-12-15
Two Boys Break Through The Ice While
Skating Monday Evening and
One II Drowned.
THE BODY RECOVERED TUESDAY,
Joseph Como, Aged 10 Years, the Victim,
and His Companion, Ed King, Saved
BY Timely Assistance.

1t ts not always the unexpected
that happens. At about $50 Mon
day evening when the alarm was
given that two boys were in the
river the answer was the same from
almost everyone that heard It that
is just what expected" And any
one who had examined the ice this
season, noting is frailness, knowing
also that the rain Of Friday last had
made it more frail and rotten, and
had then seen it loaded down with
human beings, had good reasons to
expect just such q result and no
other.
All Monday afternoon the river
between the two bridges was
covered with skaters, and among
them were two boys. Joseph Como
and Ed King. They were skating
just opposite the Pine Tree saw mill
not fur from the booms at about
5:3O when the ice gave way and both
were precipitated into the water.
Other boys were close at hand. but
they were powerless to render aid to
the two unfortunate boys who were
struggling in the water for their
lives. Their cries, however, soon
attracted the attention of j. a. Foss
aud Matt Roberts, who live near the
bank of the river, where the boys fill
in. The cries We're re idly under
stood and by rare presence OF mind
one of them secured u plank and
they ran to the rescue. When they
reached them only one boy could be
seen. He was clinging to the ice.
but it was evident that he would
soon have lost his hold for he was
rapidly becoming benumbed by the
very cold water in which he was al
most wholly submerged. The plank
was hastily thrown out and Mr..
Roberts quickly reached the half
drowned boy and pulled him out.
1t was Ed King that was thus al
most miraculOusly snatched from
the jaws Of death, but his compan-
ion could not he seen. He had sunk,
and all hope Or chance saving him
had passed. The King boy states
that his companion had chung to him
for a long time, having hold on his
skate. but the skate came off his
shoe just as assistance arrived, and
the unfortunate boy was probably
so benulnbcd by the cold that he
was unable to get another hold that
would likely have saved him.
The water where he sank is be-
tween 20 and 30 feet in depth, and
there is quite a current there.
Nothing could he done Monday
night to recover the body, as the ice
is too frail to support any number OF
a seaching party. Tuesday morning,
however, large force began the
difficult task. Graphing hooks and
othet paraphernalia for the work
were secured and efforts were made,
although there were many obstacles
in the way to find the body. 1t was
found. however about forty feet
south OF where he fell In.
The drowned boy waP ten years old,
and the son OF Mr.. and Mrs. o.
Como, who live on First street and
Fifth avenue northeast, Just = few
rods from the rivers edge and al
most opposite the spot where their
son lost his life.
1t ia the same family from which
four children were taken last spring
by diphtheria. and there IN now but
one child remaining out Of family
OF six children, Surely this unhappy
family's cup Of surrow is filled to
overlooking. Deep sympathy for
the afflicted parents Is expressed by
everyone, and especially for the
mother. She is here alone. her hus-
band being away Lake Nebagamon,
Wis.,, at work at his trade OF car
pepter on the Weyerhaeuser saw mill
at that place.
He was telegraphed for Immediate
ly and answered that he would
come by the firstsstrain,
Mrs. Como was completely prostra.
ted with grief when the news OF her
sons death was conveyed to her
and she has been under the
physicians care ever since.
The King boy is OF the same age as
his unfortunate companion: As soon
as he was taken from the water he
was hurriedly removed to the house
OF Mr.. Foss, where he was properly
cared for and was later removed to
the home Of his parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Levi King, on the flats. His
father stated this morning that the
boy passed Il very bad night, having
had several chills, but was much
better this morning. He expressed
the opinion that no serious illness