New Ulm review., 1903-04-29
RIVER CLAIMS A VICTIM.
Little Charles M,IIbrett Drowns in the
Cottonwood.
Slips From Fishway Into Deep Water Be-
low Bentzin Dam.
Younger Brother Stands Powerless and
Watches Him Perish.

Watches Him Perish.
The Cottonwood river claimed a
victim Sunday evening. Shortly be-.
fore O'Clock Chas. Millbrett, a nine
year-old boy, slipped from the fshway
near Bentzin's mill, plunged into the
swirling waters below the dam, twice
rose to view and then disappeared be-
meath the surface. A younger brother,
a mere child, stood upon the bank a
few feet distant powerless to render
him the slightest assistance in his
frantic struggles to escape and from
the opposite side of the stream anoth-
er brother watched him perish.
! With the smaller boy, little Charles
had been playing along the west bank
of the river near Bentzin's dam. They
carried short lines and angled about
in the shallow water near the shore
for minnows. At that point runway
is provided which allows of fish
| ascending above the dam. It is a long
box not more than three feet in width
and from being long submerged in the
! water it has become covered with moss
and slime.
That he might get closer to the dam
the boy climed upon this box and for
! moment or more stood securely upon
it's sloping side. Then he slipped upon
the treacherous footing and went slid
ink toward the water, clutching wildly
at the sides of the box and finding no
support in the Shiny ooze. At sight of
his brothers peril the child upon the
bank screamed and his cries, and
those of the drowning boy, attracted
the attention of those on the east bank.
The older brother hurried to the
bridge, several rods down stream, but
before he could reach the dam the boy,
who had fallen in water beyond his
depth, had drowned. An alarm was
raised and search for the body was
Immediately begun, but after several
hours of work the attempt was aban-
doned. Monday morning the parents
of the boy, with Chief Klause and
number of men, resumed the search,
dragging the river for some distance
down stream. About 9:3O a. m. the
corpse was found by a fisherman near
where the boy had drowned, the
different eddies and conflicting cur
rents having kept it almost stationary.
Eye witnesses Of the drowning be-
lieve that the boy could have been
easily saved had help been nearer
at hand. Only a half-hour before
both banks of the river were crowded
with fishermen but at the time of the
accident these had dwindled away un-
til but three or four were left. Chas.
Bierbaum, clerk in Ottomeyer's store,
was one of the last to leave. He had
been fishing below the dam on the west
bank and noticed the two boys play
ing about.
At about 20 minutes to he gathered
up his tackle and left the spot. AS he
went he saw the boy climb upon the
fish-box but thought nothing of the in
cident as it is common for boys to
stand upon it while they cast their
lines. Crossing the bridge he met the
older boy and the latter called that
his brother was drowning. Early in
the afternoon the same children had
made remarks of a similar character,
and, believing him in jest, Bierbaum
paid no attention to the summons,
which was not repeated.
Even had he responded instantly,
however, it is hardly possible that
Bierbaum could have effected the res
cue, as the distance from the bridge to
the dam is too great to have been trav-
ersed in time to have saved the boys
life. %<<-~#
Coroner L. A. Fritsche held an in
quest over the remains Monday after
noon. A verdict Of death by accident
al drowning was rendered.
Chas. Millbrett was the son of Mr..
and Mrs. Gustaf Millbrett, who reside
near the Aufderheide brick yard. He
was nine years of age and attended
school at the South Primary. At the
time of the accident Mr.. Millbrett was
in Courtland, not learning of his sons
death until his return home about 9
in the evening. The funeral was held
at 10 O'Clock yesterday morning from
the Lutheran church. Interment being
in the Lutheran cemetery.