Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-03
START ON FooLHARpY TRIP
DOWN CEDAR RIVER AND
MEET DEATH.
sKlFF OVERTURNED ~
STRIKING .AsuTMENT
Men Had Been Employed in Cedar
Rapids Starch Factory - Homes Of
Two in indianapolis and Residence
Of Third Unknown = Intended to
Float to Mississippi River.

Cedar Rapids. April 3.-Five deaths
is the toll of the Cedar river in this
city within a week. Last night at 8
o'clock three young men were drowned
in the swollen current just below the
Sixteenth avenue bridge when the
leaky fiat bottomed boat, in which they
had started to float down the river,
struck one of the piers of the bridge
and was overturned.
The victims are:
George Myers, residence unknown.
w. K. Sheets, Indianapolis.
James Shoulders, Indianapolis.
All Young Men.
According to the varied accounts of
the triple tragedy the three young
men had embarked in the boat to
float down to the Mississippi river.
They were all young men, averaging
about thirty years Of age, and had
been working at the Douglas starch
factory. The flood since Saturday
caused them to be laid off, and they de-
cided to go down the river. They
thought that the river being high would
afford an easy way of getting down.
Yesterday they purchased a flat
UOllOllSu Dodl. Last night, SdlNcIlHS
a few belongings, they placed them
in the boat and showed off at Ninth
avenue and First street. They had
been roomins and boarding at the
home of Mrs. Abe Bright, OIL South
First street, and stated there that
they were going down to the Missis-
ney shortly before 8 o'clock when the
moon was beginning to shine brightly.
Heard Cries for Help.
Several persons claim that they
heard the cries of help which the
young men shouted when their boat
struck. Joseph Mittvalsky, residing on
c street and Sixteenth avenue, states
that he noticed the three men COM
before he heard their cries for help.
He did not see them strike the pier,
but they evidently did, for a moment
did not get over to the other side Of
the bridge in time to see anyone.
Little Miss Mary Prochaska reports
ing in the flood and shouting for
help. She does not know which one
1T was. She was at their home, which
is at 1915 street, along the river
bank south Of the Sixteenth avenue
bridge. She at once alarmed the
neighborhood, running to the home of
F. c. Pangburn next door.
Tried to Save Them.
Mr.. Pangburn at once jumped into
his boat, which he had tied in the rear.
and attempted to get out into the
stream. But his efforts proved futile
for the swift current which swirls
and rushes at this point made it i'm
possible to battle against it, He mad
to abandon any attempt at rescue.
see nor hear anyone, and was only
acting on what had been reported to
him.
The matter was promptly reported
to the police department and Detec-
tives Cook and Christensen were dis
patched to the scene in hurry.
They were, however, powerless to do
anything, realizing the futility of at
tempting to get out into the current
Coroner David King was notified but
he was as powerless to do anything
as the rest and at once commenced
an investigation concerning the young
men. A visit was made to the home
Of Mrs. Bright, and as many particu-
lars as were possible were obtained.
Mr.. and Mrs Abe Bright, of Oil
South First street west, where the
three unfortunate young men had
board and rooms. were interviewed
last night
Knew Little Of Men.
I'VE really knew but little Of the
men," said Mr.. Bright. 'Mr. Shout
ders had boarded here three weeks
Sheets and Myers came here a week
ago. The two latter gave their homes
as Indianapolis and stated that they
were boys together there, having lived
within a block Of each other in that
town. - -
eve did not hold any extended con-
versation with any one Of the three.
They never talked very much and we
never inquired as to where they came
from The men all worked at the
starch works They were Of a rowing
and talked sometimes Of
their experiences, but nothing Of their
intimate life and really we do not know
they have any relatives or not,