Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-12
BOY IS DROWNED
INANATTEMPTTO
SAVE COMP ANTON
Robert Paul Barnett Meets
Tragic End in Rock River
Sunday Afternoon.
RESCUES HIS PLAYMATE
Becomes Exhausted from Struggles
and Loses Own Lke-Trassdy
Occurs Above Steel Dam.

IN q heroic effort to save the life
Of his boy companion, Israel Gold
man, who had gotten beyond his depth
in Rock river and had gone down for
the second time, 16-year-old Robert
Barnett, son OF Mr.. and Mrs. ]. S.
Barnett 1130 Third avenue, yesterday
afternoon lost his own life and sank
10 his death beneath the waters which
so nearly claimed a second victim.
Jumping into the river and seizing the
drowning boy, Barnett started for the
shore. but the body OF his rescuer was
not found until half an hour after
ward, a few feet from the spot where
It had gone down.
PLEASURE TRIP.
The drowning occurred yesterday
afternoon about 80, and brought 10 q
tragic elimination a days pleasure
trip. About 2:3O Robert Barnett. in
company with Israel Goldman, son
OF Rev. NJ. Goldman, 1923 Third ave
nue., started from the boat club in d
canoe. They proceeded down stream
10 the canal and over the locks. enter
ing Rock river just above the steel
dam. The boy friends, Earl ]. We
mere and Milton Bleuer, who were
standing on the west bank, shouted to
them and they brought the canoe up
10 the bank. where they donned bath
ing suits for a swim.
RIVER TREACHEROU1s.
Meanwhile. Vemere took the canoe
and padded out q short distance. then
bringing the little craft back into shall
low water. Here all three boys en-
gagged in a tussle, in an effort 10 get
Nemere out OF the canoe. AS a result
of the struggle the canoe was par
TALLY filled with water, and Barnett
and Goldman started to take the
craft up 10 the bank 10 empty II. They
had walked but a short distance in the
water. which was about knee-deep.
when suddenly. Goldman, who was
unable 10 swim, walked over the edge
OF deep step-off and plunged in far
over his head Vemere rushed to the
spot and grabbed the lad by the hair,
but was unable 10 maintain his grasp.
Goldman had gone down for the sec,
ond time, when Barnett dove in and
getting his shoulders under the
drowning boy. started towards the
shore. He had proceeded but a short
distance. when he became exhausted
and himself disappeared below the
surface.
LAUNCH TO RESCUE.
A pleasure party was aboard a
launch but a few rods distant, but in
stead OF throwing a rope or an oar, the
men attempted 10 crank the engine
with the result that Barnett went
down for the last time. Goldman
was brought TO shore and resuscitated
after he had been worked upon for
several minutes Barnett's body wal
recovered a half hour afterward. and
was removed to Kent & Sievers' un
dertaking parlors, being subsequently,
taken TO O'Malley's undertaking par
lors. at the request OF the family. A
the coroner's inquest conducted ovel
the remains at the home this morning
the jury returned a verdict in accord
Rnce with the facts.
GRADUATE OF ST. JOSEPH.
Robert Paul Barnett was born a
Washington, Iowa, February Il, 1897
where he attended the public schools
removing To this city with his parent,
some eight years ago, where he grad
uated from St. Josephs parochia
school in 1910. After finishing hit
6tudies he hound himself ont 90 q,