Arizona republican., 1905-02-05
HAD TWO WARNINGS
Then John TiIZer, the
 islander. Was Drowned
His Wife and Little Daughter Rescued Last Night From the Angry Waters of Salt River.

John Tilzer, who lived with his
 family on an island in the river at
 the foot of Seventh street was drown
 ed yesterday afternoon while trying
 to rescue his wire and little daughter.
 He had already brought his four boys to the bank and was returning after
 his wife when his boat struck a barb
 ed wire fence. It was instantly over
 turned. His wife caught a glimpse
 of him as he was hurried downstream
 and he was seen no more. Mrs. Til ger was taken from the island last night by force sent from the sheriff's office.
 This is the third time the Tflzer family has been removed from the is land and on the other two occasions
 Tilzer was taken away against his will.
 So for him the third time was the
 charm and his wife says that she will never again trust that dangerous habi-
 tation. IL is doubtful though if there will be anything left of it for when the boat containing Mrs. TiIZer and
 her rescuers pushed off last night the waves were breaking over the summit of it.
 The river rose so rapidly that little thought was given to the Tilzers until word was brought to town that the husband had been drowned. Steps were at once taken to rescue his wife. Deputy Sheriff Wayne Davis started
 out to find a man who could row boat under great difficulties. He ap- preached a crowd on the street and asked if anyone knew where he could ind d boatman. 4 man by the name | of C. l.. Shrum of Buckeye who had just arrived in the city from the hills came forward and offered his services. 1 A team was sent to Eastlake park af ter the boat there and it was taken to the river by Deputy Sheriff Davis.
 Mir. Shrum and Charlie Slankard. It was beginning to grow dark and what was to be done must be done quickly Mrs. Tilzer was standing on the is | land with the waves breaking at her feet. Near her was a horse standing
 in water to his knees. The current | between the island and the bank was about 200 yards wide and on the side
 next the island was running very sWi iftlH Shrum estimating it's Velo- l city had the boat carried 200 yards up stream and accompanied by the 1 deputy sheriff pushed out The deputy i had had no experience in the handling | of the boat and midway while trying
 to steer it threw it squarely across the | current so that it dipped water and was on the point of going over. Shrum | quickly brought it about and few minutes later it was driven against the l island directly in the current The l Geputy jumped out into the water and dragged the boat up.
 The woman and the little girl were | put into it and Shrum selected in the i growing darkness a point on the bank about 150 yards below where he want i ed to land. He did it with almost | mathematical accuracy Mrs. TIlzer | did not seem to be greatly alarmed. ] She appeared to be. dazed by the loss ! of her husband and thought of nothing ! else.
 ! The rescuers looked back to see what had become of the horse but in
 the darkness he was not visible. Mrs l Tilzer said that shortly before the ar
 rival of the boat she had united him | and loosened several calves and a goat It was not thought that a | thing would be left on the island two hours later for between the time the 1 boat set out on it's mission of rescue and the time of it's return the water had risen a foot
 The stricken TilZer family was taken to the office of the sheriff. Nothing had been saved. There was not even pair of shoes among the widow and children. They were provided with shoes and clothing and taken to the Valley lodging house for the night. Shrum. speaking of the incident last night said that he would not under
 take another trip like that for $500, though he might do so if human life were at stake. He said he did not full ly realize the pelilous character of it until the boat was well on the way
 across. He saw no sign of the barbed
 wire fence which had overturned Til
 gers boat for if it had not been wash
 ed away it had been covered deep by
 the rapidly rising water.