Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-30
FATHERS STORY
OF SAD TRAGEDY
w. II. Dilworth Gives Details
of Drowning in Oregon of
Two Little Sons.
ERE BURIED SIDE BY SIDE
People of Community Show Sy,npa-
thy for Parents Who Had Re
Gently Settled There.

OF q heart-breaking catastrophe that
mad overtaken Mr.. and Mrs. VIII. Dill
worth, formerly of this city. and TO
which reference has heretofore been
made In these columns The sincere
sympathy of all who knew the bereav-
ed parents will go out to them in their
lonely western home:
Enterprise, Oregon, April 26.-Editor
The Rock Island Argus: Though I
wrote a note to one or two friends in
Rock Island concerning the death of
our two babies, it is possible our
knowing the details.
arrived in Enterprise, Ore, Mon
day. April IS, to take editorial charge
of the News-Record and the Chieftain
both newspapers of this place, pub
hshed under one management Mrs.
DllWorth and our boys-Landrum and
Buster" (the latter William -remafn-
ed in Portland, where we had been
doing light housekeeping, until could
prepare for their reception here They
arrived Thursday evening. April 21,
and Friday evening, April %. both
boys were dead
On Friday the boys left their play
repeatedly to express delight to their
mamma with the beautiful country, the
grand climate, the good people here
They came to me at the Office with the
same gleeful, childish expressions, and
at one of these visits Landrum said:
There is such a beautiful cemetery
out on the hill, and such fine country
around"
In Quest of Frog Legs.
About o'clock Friday afternoon
they came into the Office and said they
had a grand surprise for me. Upon
being asked what it was, they both
exclaimed, Frog legs for support" / |
asked them where they might find
them and they answered, In a little
slough on the bill"
Not knowing there was any reservoir |
at all, and thinking they had found
seeping spring where toads or frogs /
congregated, 1 encouraged them, tell /
ing them to get only the large ones.
The boys left the house, which is |
near the Office, at about 2:30. They |
were seen playing about in the neigh |
borhoOd of the reservoir as late as |
or & O'Clock in the evening Both /
Mrs. Dilworth and myself felt a SUI
prenIe peace of mind about having
them out Of the city into the quiet and !
security of the country. At about $50 /
l stepped over to the house and Mrs.
Div orth expressed herself as being /
anxious about the boys. but laughed |
at her fears and suggested that pos
sibly they had gone to the ball game, |
nearby, having tired of their frog
6:15 Mrs. Dilworth informed me that |
there was a reservoir on the hill.
left for it Immediately
Cap Floating on Water.
Reaching the place 1 ran around it.
when l saw Busters cap floating upon
the water, about an arms length from
the shore. Grasping it, l summoned |
help, and men and women and chill
dren responded so that in five minutes
hundreds were there. Landrum's cap
was then discovered. half submerged,
in some five feet of water, about eight
feet from the shore. The outlet of the
reservoir was Immediately opened and
the water fell until men could wade,
when little Busters body was found
floating in an upright position, feet
down, his head just under the surface.
Landrum's body was found lying on
the bottom in some five feet of water.
Physicians worked for two hours with
them, trying to resuscitate life, but to
no avail, and we buried them yester-
day Sunday at II O'Clock a. m.
The people here though we were
total strangers, sprang in a body to
our aid, in our calamity. They took
entire charge of our little dead chums
and the Masonic hall was opened to
them. delegations of watchers appoint
ed and everything done for us as if
we had been one of their kin. Yes
terday all Sunday schools and churches
were dismissed and a most sincere
homage paid our little boys by the
whole popuIace. after which we buried
them together in a double casket.
Goes to Rescue of Brother.
There is only theory as to the &C
cident. 1 believe that Landrum, who
was venturesome, waded after frogs,
and stepped into deep water, and went
down. He must have cried to Buster
for help. for one of Busters shoes was
unbuckled and the laces under the
buckle were partially unlaced, appear
ing to show that he had tried TO get
his shoes off to aid Landrum; but that
IIandrum probably arose again and
cried or screamed. and that Buster left
off unlacing the shoes and plunged
after 10 save him. Otherwise we know
nothing of how the awful tragedy oc-
Cured.
I can not close without once more
remarking upon the unparalleled kind
ness of the whole city here. l have
been informed that not mother In
town nor a father slept Friday night.
Committees of business men and oth-
ers have visited us, solicitous to de-
tect any service and every service they
might perform for US. So that we
hone to remain here, live and die here,
and he buried beside our boys. very
truly yours. w. H. DILWORTH.
lie d.