The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-04
LITTLE RIVER VICTIM
viii Teen Drowned at Twelfth
St. Swimming Hole.
STARTED TO WADE ACROSS
Two Companions Dragged
His Body to the Shore.

William Teen, the 12-year-old son OF
Mr.. and Mrs. John Teen. colored, living
at the corner Of Pine and Elm, was
drowned at the Twelfth street swim
ming hole" in the Little Arkansas yes
terday afternoon at ? o'clock.
The boy was on the banks Of the creek
with two other boys. Johnny Kear Of
Murdoch and Fourth. and Val Parker.
l35l North Fourth He signihea his in
tentioR Of crossing the stream, an tax
Ing his clothes with him, he stripped for
re purpose, intending TO carry his gar
nents on top Of his head. Although he
Is q g5od swimmer, having been 2 fire.
quenter Of the muddy waters of Iiftre
IlFer since ne was old enough to talk.
Ne started IN to wade across, n3c want
ing to get his clothes wet. His clmpan-
ions paid no notice Of MS movements. hut
thought It was his intention to swim
across with his clothes, he having re--
Iormed that feat before. The water was
considerably over his head and ne start
ed 70 wade across. Just why this trick
was attempted is not known. but when
the middle OF the creek was reached his
associates. who were on the bank, noticed
that his body was under the water. bur
that his clothes were going down stream.
The Kerr boy thought yhat DE had &C
eidentaAy let loose his clothing and was
swimming across the creek under the
water, as was often the case, but when
Ne did not come up in reasonable time
for person who is accustomed to stay
ing under the water he thought there
must be something wrong. and quickly
removing his clothes Kerr went in The
body was still under the water but the
boy located young Teen and pI4le1 I'm
to shore
Whe2 the bank was reached ae vas
sim living, but was full Of watar ard IN
conscious. The other boy lent MS assis-
lance, but both being Huacquaintad with
the remedies to restore life n such cases.
they let him lie on the oaa<. Tel ev ny
that he was dead. One Of TIE boys went
10 the nearest house and selapbonei to
police headquarters. The patrol wagon
was sent out, accompanied o. elective
James Cairns, but when they arrived life
had expired from strangulation. Froth
was issuing from his mouth and tHe r3rst
glance convinced the officers that dec
tor was needless.
Had the boys who we're vita h N
known what { ohava done and would
have rolled him on the bank ard allowed
the water 10 be removed from his lLrgs
as soon as he was taken out Of TIE liver /
the boys life would have been spa ed.
The body was removed TO the home Of /
the parents, where the mother rece we'd /
the news franicauy. She was so affect /
ed that the officers feared that she /
would so into Mysteries. Her moaning /
was 50 loud that she was heard for two I
blocks. Neighbo-s came in and consoled (
her +
The coroner was notified but no con- /
,iusion has yet been reachal regarding
he holding Of an inquest. as it is a very
plain case of accidental drowning Both /
he boys who witnessed the drowning tell I
he same story and an inquest would be I
IN unnecessary expense
1t IS believed that the boy was attacked
With cramps while crossing the stream
ma that he could not control his muscles
md limbs after the water was over his
lead. This is about the only plausible
heory advanced. as the boy Is said to
iave been regular duck in the water