Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1900-01-25
MET SUDDEN DEATH
Miss Hallenberg and Thomas
Ferguson Drowned in
James River.
Accident Occurred South Of
F. Koehn's Ice House Near
the Mill.
A DepIorable Accident Which
Causes Gloom Though
out the City.

out the City.
Residents of the CITY we're startled
Tuesday morning by information that
Miss Elfrida Hallenberg,s teacher IN the
public school, and Thomas Ferguson, a
clerk in H.C. Fllnt's furniture store we're
drowned Monday evening while skating
on the river near the mill. Miss HaIlen-
berg boarded at Mrs. Gillfillan's and as
she had not returned to that place and
was not at school it was at once sur
missed that some accident had befallen
her, Mr.. Ferguson's absence from
the store WAS also unexplained. 1t was
known that they had gone skating,
leaving for the river about o'clock and
q search was begun. The body OF MISS
Hal]euberp was found in the river south
of the ice house and not far from the
mill. She had evidently made strug-
gle AZ her hands we're on top OF the loe
and her face was imbedded in tie newly
formed ice. A short time later the body
Of Mr.. Ferguson was found with the aid
of graphing hooks. The body was in
the bottom of the river Immediately un-
der where Miss Hailenberg's body was
t.ry grave. A thick crust Of ice bad
formed around her head, freezing into
the hair, and the collar OF her fur coat
was heavy with the ice. Ferguson's cap
was found a short distance from the
spot. imbedded in ice an inch or more
thick. that had formed during the night,
ae the weather turned cold soon after
the accident. Both had on their skates
when found. 1t is presumed they had
eksted but short time, and, as the
night was quite dark, went into the
water without any warning soon after
reaching the river. How long the strue-
ole for life lasted ie not known. Noone
heard cries for help and no assistance
was near.
Ferguson was strong, active young
fellow but no swimmer, 1t ls said. NO
other skaters we're on the river at the
time, although party of several friends
had intended to aocompsny Mics Hal
lenberR and Mr.. Ferguson, but the 9th
ers abandoned the plan shortly before
the time set to start to the river.
Miss Hsllenberg had before Christmas
roomed at Rev. Sheridan's house, and
was frequently back and forth from her
boarding house. Her failure to appear
at q late hour did not alarm Mr.. and
Mrs. Glllfillan, who supposed she had
intended to pass the night at her former
boarding house. No fears Of any kind
were aroused, therefore, on account OF
found. The bodies were taken at once
to Fl. G. Flint's undertaking rooms
where eu inquest was held by Coroner
Baldwin.
The place where the accident hap
pened was where ice had been taken
out last week. Owing to the mild
weather the new formed ice was not
thick enough to support the weight OF
q person. The water 10 the river at the
point where the accident occurred was
about 8 feet deep. Ferguson's body
was found in that depth OF water, 10 q
fiat position. His shoes we're covered
with black mud and, from the raised
position of bis arms, it appeared as II
he bad attemp pte6 to assist his compan-
ion from the water on to the edge OF Inc
tirmer ice. He wore black suit and
white sweater and his overcoat and over
shoes we're found on the bank near the
mill.
The body OF Miss Hallenberg lay face
down with the crown OF the head ex'
posed above the surface of the ice. Her
black veil appeared in sight OF the
searchers also frozen in the ice; her dress
evidently buoyed her up. Her arms
we're outstretched, ss II she bad held on
to the ice as long as possible, and be
coming exhausted let 60, to find wa
her absence and no thought OF olsaster
occurred until this morning.
Both bodies we're slightly frozen and
rigid in death when found, aud the u.s.
usl swollen features in cases of death
by drowning we're seen.
At once, on learning OF the absence OF
the two, Harry Flint and others started
for the river and soon after reaching 1t
tho discovery was made ss above out
lined. At the inquest the testimony OF
Mr. Flint, Sheriff Severn, Mr.. Goodman
Agent Squirting and others of the search
mo nnrtv was taken. Tho relatives ot
both we're at once notified OF the cad
alsir by telegraph, and the brother OF