The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-08-26
RIVER CLAIMS VICTIM
Charles Stevens, while Fishing on
West Grand River Sunday, Fell
in the River and Browns.

Charles Stevens, a young man about
thirty years OF age, was drowned in
Grand River Sunday morning, the fatal
ity occurring about quarter of mile
above the Whartenbee bridge.
On Saturday evening in company with
Henry Axes, for whom he had been
working this summer, Stevens went to
Grand River on a fishing trip, driving
over with Mr.. Axes team to spend the
night. They camped some little dis
tance above tn. bridge and fished until
about midnight, when they baitod their
lines and went to bed, MIR. Axes re-
marking to his companion that they
would get up about Ave o'clock and
enjoy the early morning fishing. Young
Stevens awoke promptly at 5 O'clock and
called to Mr.. Axes that it was time to
get up, but as he was pretty tired and
sleepy he did not arise for some little
time after. Stevens had fed their team
and then went to the river to look after
their lines, and when MIR. Axes arose he
saw nothing of him around the camp, SO
went down to the river to look for him,
as the young fellow was not very bright
mentally. He came to where they had
q couple of poles set, and one of them
had been pulled out with fish on it,
which was still on the hook. He then
went on up the river where they
had other lines but seeing nothing
Of Stevens he called a number Of
times to him, and when he could
get no response he became alarmed
and went to the home of VIM. Euritt
near by to inquire if Stevens had been
seen there, but none of the family had
noticed him, and as Mr.. Axes expressed
the fear that he might have fallen into
the river, Mr.. Euritt, Mr.. Warner and
one or two others were summoned and
they started out to search for him.
When the place where the poles we're
set were reached close examination
showed signs as if someone had slipped
down the bank into the water, and one
of the men took pole and felt around
in the water and in few minutes the
hook caught on his body which was
brought to shore. The body was found
in water which was five or six feet
deep. Word of the drowning was
phoned to Coroner Jeffries, and accom-
panied by john Woodmansee he went
to the scene of the accident and viewed
the body, but after hearing all the de-
tails decided that it was not necessary
to hold an inquest, as there was moth
ing to indicate foul play, his watch and
money being found on his person, and
the watch was still running.
Young Stevens was son of Martha
Woodmansee, who for many years was
an inmate Of the insane hospital, and
had never been considered az being
mentally bright. From childhood he
had been subject to fits and it may be
that he was stricken by fit and fell
into the water, or else in the excite
ment of pulling in the fish which was
found on the bank he lost his balance
and fell into the water. But the former
theory is probably the correct one as
he was six feet tall and his body was
found in water only five or six feet
feet deep and but five or six feet from
the bank of the river.
The deceased had for many years
roamed at will over the country, work.
ing here and there, and had been away
from this county for several years. He
returned about two months ago aud
went to the home of Mr.. Axes where he
secured employment on his farm.
The funeral was held on Monday,
interment of the body being in the
Woodmansee cemetery, west of Decatur
CITY,