The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-28
Remains of Richard Olson Found Near
Where He Was Drowned.
Coroner Kennedy Concludes Not to
Hold An Inquest.
City Officials Sorry that Bath House Is
Located Where 1t Is.
Some Talk of Closing 1t and Secur-
ing New Location.
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
The body of Richard Olson, whose
death by drowning in the Minnesota
river yesterday afternoon was exclusive
ly recorded by The Free Press last eve
ming, was found at a few moments be-
fore five o'clock. 1t was found by w. H
Anderson, who was attending the gun
club shoot, and who went to the scene
of the drowning as soon as he learned OF
it. He searched about fifteen minutes
and then located the body not over ten
feet below the point where the lad was
drowned The body lay in five feet of
water, fifteen feet below the boom that
marks the outline of the city swimming
pool, and five feet out from the boom.
The body was still warm when found,
and every effort was made to revive the
boy, but he had been under the water
for three-quarters of an hour, and all
efforts were useless. Drs. Jacoby and
Edwards went to the scene of the
drowning and rendered what service they
could
Coroner Kennedy was summoned, but
after looking the ground over concluded
that no inquest was necessary. The re-
mains were turned over to Odjard &
knott and were taken to John r.
Thomas undertaking rooms.
The funeral will be had at two o'clock
tomorrow afternoon from the Norwegian
Lutheran church on Pleasant street, and
the interment will be had at the Swed
ish Lutheran cemetery.
Richard Olson was fifteen years of
age, and was the oldest son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Amund Olson. He was bright and
industrious boy, and gave promise of be-
ing a useful man. Since last March he
had been employed by Geo. E. Brett, Inc,
first as delivery boy, and lately was
given charge of the bundle counter. He
was taking weeks vacation this week.
He was we'll liked by his employers and
by all of the clerks in the store.
Four years ago Richards older brother,
seventeen years of age, was drowned in
the Minnesota river, and Richard had
never been in the river since then until
Yesterday. He remarked this to his COM
panion, Melvin knott, when he went in.
He was unable to swim, but when he
saw the Turittin boy in trouble he at
once waded out toward him as rapidly as
he could, intending to help him to
shore. The current swept him from his
feet and he was drowned before help
could arrive
Search for the body was at once be-
gun, and Mr.. Anderson and Geo. Kenney
took an active part in it, the latter
with graphing hooks.
The death of their son is a sad blow
to the parents, who live near Neil Cooks
lumber yard. Mr.. Olson is employed in
the yard.
The swimming pool is marked by a
boom of timbers, six by eight inches,
chained end to end. 1t extends out to
where the water is five feet deep, or
was supposed to do so when it was plac-
ed there As the river rises and falls
the water within the boom gets deeper
or shallower. Outside of the boom the
water gets very deep, as the current sets
in there swiftly. When the bath house
was located there, several of the alder
men spoke of the danger of the place and
cOunseled the selection of location that
would be safer, and urged that in any
event an expert swimmer should be Sc
cured to be on hand when the bath house
was open, ready for any emergency. In
spite of the feeling on the part of the
majority of the aldermen, the council
voted to locate the house where it is. 1t
does not appear that there are any life
saving contrivances there, such as life
lines or life preservers or floats that
can be cast to persons who are in dan
ger of drowning
Park Superintendent Blake, who has
general charge of the bath house, states
that he has tried in vain to get an ex-
will fob oh IF
the bath house during the hours that it
is open and work in the park the bal
ance of the time, as directed by the coun-
ell. He has spoken to various city Of
cess in getting such party as desired.
Frank Allen. park employee, has had
charge of the bath house, and has given
satisfactory service, but he is not con-
sidered an expert swimmer.
Frank Allen, who has charge of the
lighthouses, made the following state
ment to The Free Press: 81 was on my
way to the bathhouse and was met by
Paul Ogle, who informed me that boy
was drowning. / was then about three
or four rods beyond the steps leading
from the picnic grounds to the bath
house. | rushed Immediately to the
scene and plunged into the water. The
boy went down once after I arrived
there. / had on all my clothes, two
heavy pairs of overalls, shoes, etc., and
it was almost impossible for me to re-
main above water in the swift current so
/ went back on shore. l then went and
secured the services of Ed Gibbons and
Thomas ellison, at the office of the park
SUPERINTENDENT to aid me in rescuing the
boy. While I was absent W. H. Ander-
I did not learn went to the lighthouses.
son and another gentleman whose name
Gibbons, ellison and myself returned with
a boat and 1 informed Anderson where
Olson was last seen. Mr.. Anderson dove
down and found the boys body. do not
think that | could have rescued Olson
as / had no one to help me. The cur
rent was too swift for one person to at
tempt rescue. / am good swimmer.
/ am supposed to open the lighthouses
at AS in the afternoon. L was on
nv way to the houses yesterday at four
o'clock. If / had been at the spot when
the boy first went down | could have
saved him" :.
Mavor Taylor, as soon as he heard OF
the recovery of the body, directed DIR.
Edwards to 90 to the bath house and do
what he could toward restoring life to
the boy, and as soon as possible he drove