The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-02
THREE CHILDREN
 DROWN IN CREEK Mother Saved by Sons He-
 roic Efforts OCCURS NEAR SELMA William and Ralph Behreng and Edna Harper Drown in Deep
 Pool in Valley
 Creek

Selma, July 1.-(Special. )-Wiliiam and
 Ralph Behreng, aged IA and 9 years, sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Behreng of New Orleans, and Edna Harper, F years of age, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. w. W. Harper of Selma, were drowned in Val
 ley creek, about two miles northwest of
 Selma this morning at 1O:30 o'clock.
 Mrs. Harper was saved from death in
 the creek by her son, William, IA years old. But for the heroic efforts of her
 son there is little doubt but that she
 would have met death with her daughter.
 Shortly after the tragic death of the three children their bodies were recovered ana brought to the city and prepared for
 burial.
 Dr. Harper, with his wife and children, and the two Behreng boys, who were here visiting Mrs. Harper, their aunt.
 went to the creek this morning about g o'clock It was the intention of Mrs.
 Harper and the children to remain in the woods during the day and to re- turn home this afternoon, when Dr. liar
 per came for them in his automobile. The place selected for the days out ing was a popular place last summer and every day large number of the ClIuuT6u were ldhtn lutIc lO pldy III lHC creek. The high waters of the creek dur ing the past winter, though, caused quite a hole to be washed in the creek and in which the three children met their deaths this morning.
 Shortly after reaching the selected place this morning William Harper and Will liam and Ralph Behreng went into the
 woods and put on their bathing suits.
 They returned to the creek and the two
 Pab, n started tn
 wade around. The eldest Behreng boy soon reached the deep hole and sank beneath the waters. Young Harper, who
 at the time was standing on the bank of the creek, jumped in and went to
 the rescue of his cousin. At the same
 time the youngest Behreng boy continued to wade and soon he was in the deep hole and sinking also. Little Edna Harper,
 who was standing on the bank of the creek, seeing that her brother was go- ing to the rescue of her elder cousin, jumped into the water and went to the aid of the younger of the two boys. Soon she was in the deep water and with her young cousin was being drawn be-
 heath by the water as 1t eddied past the pool
 The attention of Mrs. Harper was at- tracted by the cries of the children and running to the bank of the creek she saw the danger they were in and with out hesitating jumped in and started for them When Mrs. Harper reached the deep part of the creek she also sank. Her son William, who had been trying to rescue his eldest cousin, saw the dan ger his mother was in and went to her assistance and finally brought her to the creek bank while the other three were drowned.
 Assistance was quickly secured and the news of the death of the three children was telephoned here. As quickly as pos- sible Dr. Harper and number of friends went to the bank of the creek where the three children had been drowned. Shortly afterwards the three bodies were recovered and brought here and pre- pared for burial.
 The bodies of the two Behreng chill dren will be shipped to New Orleans for interment. They are the only children of Mr. and Mrs. John Behreng of that city. MT. Franzes Behreng, prominent resident of New Orleans, is also their uncle. The two Behreng boys came to
 Selma about two weeks ago to visit Mrs. Harper, who is an aunt of theirs. During their stay here they made large number of friends.
 Little Edna Harper was one Of the pret- tiest and most talented children Of the
 city. Her death is sincerely mourned by the many friends of her parents through out the city.