The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-05
BOY DROWNED IN
MERAMEC River,
Louis Ries Of st. Louis Ventured
Into Deep Water, Though He
Could Not Swim.
JOHN SEIB0LD'S BRAVERY.
Lad Pluckily Tried to Rescue His
Companion and Nearly Lost
His Own Life in the Gal
liant Effort.
JOHN SEIB0LD'S BRAVERY.

Louis Ries, Is years old. who lived with.
his mother. Mrs. Kate Ries. at No. e942
Manchester avenue. this CITY, was drowned
yesterday about 1 o'clock while swimming
with number of his friends at the juno
ton of Glaze Creek and the Meramec River
near Meramec Highlands, Another boy,
John Seibold. who is Il years DID, and who
lives at No. 3217 West Chestnut street.
despite the fact that he IS light lad and
smaller than his schooImate. Ries. made a
heroic effort TO save his companions life
and In the effort nearly lost his own.
Tuesday evening seven lads. all under Is
years of age. met at the house of James
McCue, No. II South Garrison avenue. They
were James McCue. Emmett Grogan of No.
3lo South Ewing avenue. Charles Momsort
Of No. 1924 I.aclede avenue. Jim Momfort
of the same address, Bert Braxton of No.
1868 Clark avenue. John Lube of No. 27a6
Manchester avenue. Joseph Seibold of No.
32l1 West Chestnut and Louis Ries. Among
the schemes set forth as TO the best manner
to spend the Fourth was one suggesting a
fishing trip to Meramec Highlands. This
found the most favor and was decided on.
Jim Momfort. Braxton and Groean could
not go in the morning. so 1t was determined
that the other five go out early and that
the trio meet them in the afternoon
By Z o'clock the boys We're of, each
with a fishing pole over his shoulder They
arrived at their destination little after
o'clock. At once they went to the river
and began to fish. After lunch a swim was
suggested. The place chosen for the din
is quite a favortte for swimmers in the
Meramec. but the bottom shelves of very
quickly and the place is only safe for good
swimmers.
McCue. Charles Momfort. Lube and. Sell
bold undressed and went into the water.
Ries at first remained on the bank. as he
could not swim. After awhile he tried to
swim. He struck out wildly. and in the
effort he went beyond his depth.
His call for help attracted the attention
of his friends. Lube and McCue noticed
him go down and rushed to the shore for
one Of the fishing poles. When Ries came
up the first time they held the pole out
and the boy went down again.
While this was happening Seibod start
ed for his drowning companion. Before
he reached him. Ries came up and went
down a third time. Seihold Owed and man.
aged to grasp Ries's body. but as he did so
the former grfpped him about the neck.
Seiboid struggled to free himself. At last
seibold mai managed g Il, to clip loose from the
still down he made an attempt to grasp
Ries by the hair, but failed. Then young
Seibold. completely exhausted, had to give
up.
Meantime a man whose name was not
secured heard the cries of the boys and
managed to recover the body Of Ries. The
boys family, which Is a large one, wa4e
first notified Of the tragedy by a Republi1
County Coroner Armstrong was
also notified and he held an inquest.
Joseph Ries. a brother Of the deceased.
who Is a policeman. went to Meramec
Highlands last night and made arrange
ments for the conveyance Of the body to
Ries's home. No arrangements have yet
been made In regard to the funeral.