The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-26
BROKE THROUGH ICE
Chester MulIenneix Drowned
in Little River
ICE WAS VERY SOFT
Cecil TabeIing's Life Despair
ed of For an Hour.
TRIED TO SAVE COMPANION
But Was Dragged Into Water
by Others Struggle,
TRIED TO SAVE COMPANION

Chester EIullenneix was drowned in the
Little river yesterday afternoon about
half past three. He, with his brother
and Cecil labelling. were skating on the
river. and when about I'VE hundred feet
north Of the dam the ice broke under
Chester AIuneneix. who was ahead Of the
others, and he went down. Cecn label
Ing slsated up and grabbed him and with
the aid Of the brother pulled Chester out
Of the water and on solid ice. The boy
was wet &c the armpits, and be started
across the ice 10 the east bank of the
river with the intention Of going home
When be was about fifteen feet from the
west bank. the ice broke through again.
and The lad went down. Again Cecil
labelling caught him, and lying on the
ice, and the brother Of the drowning boy
holding his hand, he grabbed his COM
Lanion. This time the boy went entirely
under water, and in a place where the
water was about ten feet deep. He
struggled and pulled until the ice broke
under cecil labelling and he was dragged
into the water. He did not let go at once,
and came very near being drowned him
self
Cecil labelling was lying fat on the
ice and Earl Mullenneix was holding his
hand when the ice broke under him. Earl
AIullenneix then began crying for help.
and three men. who were driving along
on the east bank, came to his aid. They
plunged onto the ice and this gave way
under their weight. They had TO break
their way through the ice for hundred
feet or more before they came TO the
place where the boys went into the water
Fred Farmer reached the hole first. and
grabbed Cecn labelling and took him to
the bank. The body of the other boy
could not be found.
After taking the boy to the bank Mr..
Farmer who is manager Of the East
side Racket. and James Kabler and W.
j. Young. both Of whom work for the
Wichita Electric company, began working
with the lad to restore his respiration.
8Ir. Kabler lives near the river. and the
lad was taken to his home, where the
men worked for more than an hour be-
fore any sign Of life showed. The boy
had every appearance of being dead. and
the men were nearly ready to give up try
Ing to save bis life when il was found
that the boy was breathing. The men.
with the assistance OF Dr. Jordan and
Chief Burt. who had arrived by this time,
soon had the boy in good condition. He
was wrapped up and in a few DAYS no
one can tell that he ever had such a mar
row. escape from a watery grave. When
he was dragged into the water some Of
the broken pieces Of ice cut the left side
Of his face. and there is also a big bruise
IN the right temple.
While the men were working with Cecil
labelling, Cass Woods and another man
procured a boat and went down to look
for the body Of the drowned boy. They
took poles and after fishing around for
some time. Mr.. Woods caught some Of
the boys clothing and be was taken to
the home of Mr. Kabier. but there was
10 hope Of saving his life. as he had
been under the water nearly an hour
The place where the lad was drowned is
just ~ the bend Of the river on the west
side. within plain sight OF the dam ana
the Central avenue bridge The wata~ IS
about son feet deep bat there is several
feet III sediment p The bottom. When the
TabeEag lad was pulled out it was found
that De hal mircd in the mud. which was
married up - his knes. Ia an probability
this accounts for the drowning Of The
o5her hez Flo must certainly have mired
O. tha uHi ANA tins prevented tho men
fram aa3.as him ID is also stated that
vaen the body was found il was as IL
The boy Was Standing on the bottom.
Caeeter 7mIleuneiN was fourteen years
n age. aa3 ueel with his parents at SCI