The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-08-06
RIVER CLAIMS TOLL
ALLIE LENERTZ GOES TO HIS
DEATH IN THE MINNESOTA.
Drowning Occurred Early This After
noon; Boy Could Not Swim and His
Companions Were Unable to Lend
Him Assistance; No Help Was
Near at Hand and Victim Was
Drawn Down the Stream.

The Minnesota river today claimed
its annual toll from the bathers who
seek its treacherous currents. Allie
Lenertz, one of the bright and prom
Using young men of the city, met his
death early this afternoon while seek
ing the GOODNESS of its waters. I'm
mediately after having his dinner, in
company with his friends, Rudy Huet-
Il and Whitney Iaeple, he went to
the river at the foot of Rock street.
and, with Huettl, cast off his clothing
and waded in He could not swim a
stroke, neither could Huettle nor
YaepIe. In fact, this was the first sea-
son that he had even waded into the
water.
Threw Aside Discretion.
Young Lenertz, i'll the joy of the
bath, threw aside discretion and wad-
ed into the water as far as he could
20. The waves rose over his shoulders
and curled around his neck, and still
he advanced, not knowing that one
step more meant death. He took the
fatal step, and sank a little lower into
the water, and was swept off of his
feet by the current and into deeper
water.
The boy called loudly for help, but
there was none to be had. His COM
panions were helpless. Huettl waded
as far out as he dared and tried to
raonh him, nd Noanla NH haJ HE
clothes on, got long stick and tried
to reach it to him from the shore, for
he was not over a rod out. qhe lad
went down three times, coming up
each time, and finally was swept down
stream, his head falling forward and
his hands padding feebly. He was
followed by his companions for a
block, and was also seen by other par
ties who came fastening from further
up the river, but he finally disappear.
ed from view.
Huettle Gave the Alarm.
Huettle fastened to the big MILL
where he is employed, and gave the
alarm. The drowning occurred at ten
minutes before one o'clock, and it was
not five minutes before word was re-
eeived at the police station. The
police and iremen FASTENED to the
scene. with graphing poles, and others
procured boats, and young men were
soon diving near where the body had
disappeared. The current sets in to-
ards the city shore all along this
art of the river, and several uprooted
Trees offer fine Judgment places for a
body. These were searched carefully,
but without result. The place where
the body was last seen was opposite
the city dumping ground, and a crowd
of people gathered there and patrolled
the river bank this afternoon.
Was Steady Faithful Boy.
The drowned boy was the oldest son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Alex Lenertz who
reside at the corner of Fifth and Vine
streets. The only other child in the
family is a two year old boy Allie
was sixteen years old, and for the
past year was employed as driver for
the lower Macbeth & Gardner meat
market, managed by Theodore Sherk
He was a steady, faithful boy, well
liked by all, and the pride of his
parents. His father, who is a steam
driller employed in the Widell quarry,
states that he had frequently eau
toned the boy not to 60 into the river
Both parents were badly overcome with
grief when informed of their sons
death. Mrs. Lenertz is sister of De-
putty Sheriff Eli Klughertz. The young
man was planning to go to st. James
Saturday for a visit.
Water Is Very Deep.
The place where the drowning took
place is close to the shore, but the
water is eight or ten feet deep and tn.
current just below is rather swift,
and the chances are that the body was
carried down stream if it did not lodge
In the snags. The city ought to pos
sess seine or netting to stretch across
the river in such cases, to catch the
body.
Lenertz's companions state that the
boy had been in the water about fif-
teen minutes when the drowning &C.
Cured There was no sign of cramps.
The place is dangerous one for all
except expert swimmers.
The Y. NJ. c. A. swimming pool IS
open to the boys of the city, and if
all took advantage of the opportunity
there would be no drownings.