Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-22
FATHER AND THREE DAUGHTERS
AT LIE CLAIRE DROWN IN
MISSISSIPPI.
THOMAS THOMAS DIES
RESCUE EFFORTS
Daughters Go to Aid Of Child Who
Waded Into Deep Waters and Others
Sacrifice Lfes in Heroic Effort to
Rescue others-Mother Witnesses
Distressing Tragedy.

LeClare. Aug 22-Four people, a
father and three daughters. lost their
lives in the Mississippi two miles north
of here last night. the father drowning.
while making a heroic but vain at
tempt to rescue his struggling chill
6ren.
The dead are:
Thomas Thomas. a farmer. 81 years
old.
Dorothy Thomas, 81 years OLD.
Elizabeth Thomas, l. years old.
Katherine Thomas, IL years old.
The Oldest daughter. Dorothy. left
the boat in which the family was
rowing. TO wade. The girl came to a
step-off and went beyond hec depth
Her two sisters seeing her struggling
in the water, leaped out OF the row.
boat to assist her.
Within thirty seconds al three girls
We're helpless. The TWO younger sis
tiers attempted TO swim but were
dragged beneath the surface of the
water BY the clutching hands Of their
drowning sister.
Father Loses Life.
The father. panic stricken. dropped
the oars, and leaped into the water
in frantic effort 70 save the lives OF
the strangling trio He seized one of
the girls and attempted 10 tow her in
shore. The fear-maddened child
clasped her arms about her would be
.sscuer. and pulled him down.
Wildly the man struggled to free
himself from the graphing arms OF
his drowning daughter. But the 9TH
s- girls hands we're locked in the
clothing of their sister
The four went down with arms inter
ryyined The bodies were all recovered
within circle of ten feet. The faith
ers hand grasped the torn string Of the
apron OF the youngest girl.
Child Rescues Brother.
While the death struggle was going
on in the water. another heroic rescue
was made from the boat. When Thorn :
as leaped from the rowboat 10 the res
cue Of his daughters, he left his TWO
grandchildren, Martha and Harry Bur-
CESS in the boat, aged respectively 10
and Z.
The little boy became excited at the
rescue attempt going on within few
feet Of the boat and leaning too far
out over the side of the skif. lost his
balance and plunged into the river. His
little sister grasped him by the collar
and, altho she could not lift him into
the boat. held his head above water IN
til help arrived.
Fishermen Rescue Child.
Fishermen and clammers on the
shore. who witnessed the daring but
futile attempt of the father to rescue
his daughters, Immediately put off in
boats to the scene Of the fatalities.
Upon nearing the Towboat they lifted
the struggling child into the boat and
commenced the hunt for the bodies Of
the four who had ben drowned.
Fifteen minutes after the drown
ing the first body was recovered. 1t
was that Of Dorothy, the Oldest girl.
Efforts at resuscitation were made
while awaiting the arrival of the doc
tor. Further attempts We're made 20
revive the drowned girl after he ar
rived but with no success. The other
bodies were taken from the water
within the following hour and half
The fathers body was the last one
found
AS each one was brought to the sur
face. the physician attempted to revive
life. His efforts were of no avail.
Widow Sees Family Die.
The Thomas home is but a short dis
lance from the river and az the time
of the drowning Mrs. Thomas was
watching the waiing child.