The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-12-28
DROWNED OUT IN IDAHO
Joe Sanders, a Former Resident OF
this County, is Swept Under
the Ice in the Snake River.

The following account of the trag-
ic death of Joe Sanders, at one time
resident of Decatur county, his
wife being a sister of w. w. Stiles,
who lives northeast of Leon, Is taken
from the Idaho Falls, Idaho, Post OF
December 18th:
J. J.-Joe-Sanders, aged fifty
two, formerly of Market Lake, was
drowned in the Snake river at half
past eight yesterday morning. The
body was swept under the ice about
one hundred yards below the new
city dam, where he had been work.
ing, and has not been recovered.
Sanders, who is married, reported
for work to Foreman Downs at eight
o'clock and was set to work chopping
ice from the crest of the dam. A
board had been rigged up with ropes
from which Sanders worked.
In some manner Sanders cut the
rope holding one end Of the board in
his attempt to dislodge the ice jam.
The board fell and as it did so San
ders body shot forward in the air.
He gave one agonizing shrek and
struck full twenty-five feet below.
Foreman Downs with a dozen men
employed on the work saw Sanders
fatal accident. They hurried for
ropes but before aid could possibly
be Forthcoming Sanders was in the
midst of the swirling channel.
Those who saw the accident believe
that he was stunned by the fall for
his efforts to swim were weak. He
waved his arms and tried to catch
the ice but the whirlwind current
turned him over and his head wag
drawn under while his boots shot
up. Again he righted himself and
some say he yelled for help. His
companions tried to throw ropes to
him but before they could do 80 he
was swept under the ice and lost to
view.
Sanders wife resides in this city
in a house opposite the dam on this
side of the river and almost directly
across from where the tragedy oc-
Cured. He is survived by his widow
and three children, a son, Clyde San
ders, and a married daughter, both
of whom live at Market Lake, and a
daughter in Canada.
Guards patrolled the river for a
great distance but no trace of the
believed that the remains will be
found, if ever, until late in the
spring. Sanders was we'll known
and highly regarded and his death
comes as a great shock to his many
friends. Mrs. Sanders was prostrat-
ed at the news of the terrible death
of her husband.
This is the first accident that has
occurred in the building of the dam
by the city.
Joseph J. Sanders was born in
Iowa on Dec. 5, 1859, and was just
fifty-two years and six days old.
Just q week ago he celebrated his
fifty-second birthday with his family.
Mr.. Sanders father was a promi-
nent member of the 52nd Kansas
regiment and saw active service all
through the Civil War and was a
prominent man in his day.
Joseph J. or Joe" Sanders, as he
has always been affectionately
known, married Miss Margaret Stiles
and in 1889 they moved to the Black
Hills, and in August, 1899, the fam
lily moved to Market Lake where he
homesteaded eighty acres. The FAM
lily moved to this city three years
ago and they have since lived on
Western avenue, opposite the dam,
where Mr.. Sanders met his death.
Mr.. Sanders was one of the first to
be employed on the new dam and was
a most efficient workman. He was
a member in high standing of the
Modern Woodmen at Market Lake. =
Besides his heartbroken widow he
leaves three children. They are
Clyde M. Sanders, of Market Lake;
Mrs. A. F. Matson, of Rupert, and
Mrs. Matte Orton, of Canada.
Special on School Tablets, 800
SC tablets now at SC. at Conrey's.