Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-09-25
George johnson Drowned.

George johnson Drowned.
Sunday afternoon George johnson
and JOS. Christana went to lake Oche-
da, duck hunting, which terminated
fatallysfor the first named.
While on the lake in small fiat
bottomed boat about six O'Clock and
opposite Wills slough, Johnson stood
up In the boat and shot at q flock of
ducks. AS he shot he lost his balance
fell out and upset the boat, throwing
Christina out. They both caught hold
of the boat and hung on for about 20
minutes when johnson started to
swim in an easterly direction for the
shore about half mile away. He
went only about ten feet when be
suddenly sank and came up three
times. Christina not being SWIM
mer was powerless to render any as
sistance, and the horror of the sight
Of man drowning and unable to give
any aid can be better imagined than
described. Christina called for help
and parties who were about half q
mile away came to his relief. When
taken to the shore he was nearly stiff
from being in cold water so long.
Why Johnson started to swim ashore
is not known, as he said nothing about
doing so, but simply let 60 the boat
and made toward the shore. He was
considered good swimmer, but had
on hip boots, heavy coat, a sweater
and box of shells in his pockets, all
of this naturally overloaded him, be-
sides he was chilled from being in the
cold water.
Had he chung to the boat, awhile
longer he would have been rescued, as
there is almost daily some one hunt
ting on this lake. Work was at once
commenced to secure the body and
the search was kept up until nearly
twelve O'Clock before it was discovered
and brought to the surface. There
was a large number went out from
town to assist in the search and all
done good work. The remains were
taken to Chanery g. Mackays under
taking rooms for preparation for ship
ment and burial.
The coroner made an examination
of the body and found no water in it
and decided that death was caused by
heart failure. The father says that
himself and wife are both subject
to heart trouble and think the boy
was.
Mr.. Johnson's parents live at Ores.
co, Iowa. His father is contractor
and builder. The Mayor of Cresce
was notified by wire Of the accident
Sunday night.
Mr.. johnson came here about si1
months ago and was in the employ OF
the Colman Lumber Co.. He had g
large number of friends here and was
well liked by all who knew him and
his employer. He was faithful and
steady employee. While his parent.
are strangers here, yet the entire
community regrets the sad acciden
of SO promising young man and sym
pathize with the bereaved family il
the sudden taking away OF their son
-Worthington, Mimi, Advance.
George johnson was born in Lin,
Springs, Iowa, about twenty-five year
ago and, excepting one year spent ii
college, resided at that place continu
ously until three years ago when b,
with bis parents moved to Cresco
Iowa.
The funeral was held at the M. r
church in Lime Spring, Wednesday
Sept, 49,, Rev. John Gammons, o.
Crescc, officiating, the remains being
inferred in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
A detail of eight men from Co. "E'
i 53rd 1. N. g., of which deceased wa,
member, attended the funeral, Civ
, ing a soldiers last honors at til,
grave.