Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-05
TWO DROWN N CEDAR
William Sutton Loses Life in
Attempt to Rescue a Drown.
ing Boy.
George Cerny. Aged s Years,
Falls into Mill Race at
Cedar Rapids.
Swift Current Carries Him I'm.
der Together with His
Brave Rescuer.
Special to Times-Republican.


Cedar Rapids, Sept. 5.-A double
drowning occurred at the mill race here
last evening. George Cerny. aged 6
years, and William Sutton. aged 80,
who attempted to rescue the boy. are
the names of he victims. The lad was
fishing and stepped into the water
at the bulk head north Of the b avenue
bridge and lost his balance and fell into
the water which is about eight feet
deep there. Boys with him threw his
fish pole upon the water but the little
fellow, apparently strargled, stretched
cut on his back and went out ~ sight
near the municipal pumping station.
Sutton plunged into the race just above
that point and after swimming half
way across with apparent ease went
down, came UP With his face upward,
stretched out his hands and went down.
At 1:45 the body of the boy was dis
covered near the Anchor mill racking
nearly zoo feet from where he fell into
the water He had passed under the
Cooper mill and past all of the big
wheels to TIE racking, which stopped
further progress.
Darkness fell upon the scene and I'M
til late into the night sangs of men in
boats dragged and 1ished beneath the
mills for the body of Sutton. The news
OF the double accident had become
widely spread and hundreds of people
thronged the bridges and banks of the
race to watch the hunt for the remains
of the unfortunate man.
George Cerny, as was stated at his
home. had gone fishing with another
lad by the name of Arthur Alt. They
With others were at the bulkhead with
their hooks and lines when the unex-
pected happened. Jerking his line
quickly from the water the little fellow
lost the bobber and chilolike stepped to
he edge to reach for it. He lost his
footing and fell into the race. Other
boys threw his pole to him, but either
fright or cramps prevented him from
erasping at the chance for his life. and
he struggled and went down three
times, the last time near the pumping
station. News of the accident spread
and there was soon an immense crowd
on the bridge and the banks OF the
river.
Among those who appeared was
William Sutton. who was an expert
swimmer. and h announced his deter
to ent r the water. Another,
nan appeared q the spot with a life
preserver and OIL cred 1t to Sutton, who
vas starting int the race. He refused
his and made bold plunge into the
ace. Witt, a arvelous experiences, 1t
s said by man, he swan ont into the
middle of the ice and some distance
oward the mill Then he went down
and appeared a ain on his back, strug-
Cling near the ,rner of the mill. Some
say that he thu sw up his hands as he
vent down. II never appeared again
IN the surface nd 4 second cry of hor-
or went up FIR m the place. 1t is be-
ievee by those familiar with the water
hat Seton VIZ dragged to death by a
'trong under c, trent Of water.
AS the man went down the crowd |
pressed to the dge of the platform in
ront of the per mill. There was
all for a ror md Robert Cooper, who
vas just rstui ling TO the mill, seized I
me and made rush for the edge of t
he platform, but the crowd had pressed
n ahead Of him and before he could /
rake his way thru Sutton had gone'
Town never to appear again alive.
Mr.. Manning, an employe of the An
hor mill, was on the edge of the plat I
orm of the Cooper mill. e,ich is some
tx feet above the water, and he dived
lead foremost after the unfortunate
nan. He came to the surface and I
truggled to the shore. 1t was too deep
nd the current beneath the surface too
trong to permit the effectng of a
escue