Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-10-16


ed in the Mississippi river, near Fergu-
son, Mo, last Sunday afternoon. The
following is taken from Mondays st.
Louis Globe Democrat: "Roland
Reese, %, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Reese
of Ferguson, Mo-, was accidentally
drowned in the Mississippi River near
the mouth of the Missouri River at
$3.50 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
while out duck shooting in a rowboat.
Ralph Lester and Walter Smith, also
of Ferguson, were his companions.
The three young men went out to the
Missouri River yesterday morning
and we're rowing about in search of
game when Reese, who vas sitting
in the extreme stern of the boat, sud-
denly fell to the surface. He was not
seen again by his companions, who
watched for a long time to go to his
rescue. When all hope of rescuing
him wal gone the men rowed to the
shore. Smith went back to Ferguson
to notify the family. Lester remained
in the vicinity in hope the body might
be washed ashore, but it had not been
recovered at a late hour last night.
Reese was well known in Ferguson,
as is his brother, Bernard Reese. They
have been conducting a meat market
at Florissant and Carson avenues,
near the end of the -Fergu-
son ear line."
There was a tradegy enacted in Bis
marck Tuesday night of last week that
recalls a similar fatality. that happen
ed in this county probably fifteen
years ago. A farmer by the name of
Nichols who lived near Des Arc, in
the south end of the county, had been
annoyed by some one entering his crib
and stealing corn. Nichols set a trap
for the intruder arranging it so that a
shot gun would be fred when the
crib door was opened. One morning
in going to the crib Nichol found an
unknown man lying dead at the crib
door, his body being badly mutilated
by the charge from the shot gun. The
identity of the dead man vas never
established and it is said Nichols never
was the same man again, and brooded
much over the tragedy. After a
a while he left the county and has
since made his home in the south.
The following account of the Bismarck
fatality is taken from the last issue of
the Pennington News: "Luther john
son was shot and almost instantly
killed by a death trap in Henry Ad-
kins' blacksmith shop at Bismarck
about nine O'Clock Tuesday night.
johnson had been working for Mr..
Adkins for the past four OF five years,
part of the time in his blacksmith
shop at Bismarck and the rest of the
time on his farm nearby. OF late he
had been working on the farm, but on
Tuesday moved into town to work in
the shop during the winter. Some
time ago MI. Adkins shop was enter
ed one night and some tools stolen,
also his coat containing several letters,
The burglar tried to rob the post Of
fee at Middlebrook but was frighten-
ed away and in his haste left the tools
and coat containing the letters. The
discovery of the coat embarrassed Mr.
Adkins, who decided that perhaps the
guilty. man was some one trying tc
get him into trouble by throwing sus-
picion upon him. The more he thought
of it, the more he feared such a result
and finally decided to set a trap for
his enemy. A shot gun was used and
it was set pointing toward the window
through which entrance had beer
gained to the shop. Mr.. Johnson ant
his wife were repairing the chicken
house after supper and finding they
needed more nails he went to the
shop and entered through a small OPP
ening in the rear, as he had done be-
fore. Shortly afterward the report o.
a gun was heard. Mr.. Adkins heart
it and thinking his enemy had beer
trying to get into his shop went ovel
to get Mr.. johnson to go with hin
and investigate. When Mrs. johnson
told him that her husband had gone
to to shop, he said he was afraid hi
had been hurt and hurried on to in
vestigate. Others came along anC
before the shop was reached John
sons dead body vas discovered. The
full load had entered just above hit
right thigh and had passed onto hi
bowels. He had evidently ran intt
the string attached to the gun ant
discharged it. He had been able tt
leave the building by the door which
he entered but had taken only a few
steps outside before the fell. Tit
body was removed to Mr.. Adkins
undertaking rooms where an inques
was held the next day. The jury
placed no responsibility for the death
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Math
ews was present atthe inquest. Prose
cutting Attorney Benham said yester
day that the matter would be investi
; gated further by the November CRANE
jury. 1t is a most regrettable accident
; Mr.. Adkins and Mr.. Johnson had al
ways gotten along nicely together
The deceased leaves a wife and fou
children"
| For Sale-Cosy Home Poultry Yard
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