New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-04-12
CAMBRIA FARMER
BROWNS IN RIVER
TO CROSS FLOODED
APPROACH TO BRIDGE WITH
TEAM.
HORSES BECOME FRIGHTENED
PRECIPITATE OUTFIT INTO
ICY WATERS.

Another case OF drowning was added
to the list of Minnesota river victims
last Saturday evening shortly before z
o'clock when John C. Walters, farmer
residing about two and one-half miles
southeast of Cambria lost his life in the
icy flood near the CORTLAND bridge.
According to eye witnesses of the &C
cident it was due to an unruly team of
horses, which also were drowned.
Walters and several others had been to
CORTLAND last Saturday afternoon to
lay in their weekly supply of provisions
and left the village shortly after 6
o'clock. The approach to the CORTLAND
bridge lis covered with several feet of
water, but had been crossed by many of
the farmers of the vicinity of Cambria
during the past week and everything
seemed perfectly safe. Leo Reed, a
young fellow living near Cambria, also
had been to town and was riding horse
back. When the party arrived at the
bridge approach Reed led the way and
was followed by Walters with his team.
Another farmer by the name of Wagner
brought up the rear. When Walters
had reached a point about 100 feet from
the solid road, one of the horses reared
suddenly, evidently frightened by some
object floating in the water. When it
tried to regain it's feet it slipped off the
lower side Of the grade, pulled the other
horse with it and tipped the rig over.
Walters shouted and jumped.
On account of the strong current and
no means to reach the. drowning man,
no attempt could be made to bring him
to shore by his companions. They
shouted to him to swim towards bunch
of willows and to hang On until they
could either get a boat or float a rope
down to him. Walters called back to
them that he was all right and began to
swim downstream, towards a elump of
bushes. He had not gone more than
about 100 feet, when he was seen to
throw up both hands and sink from
view. The horses and wagon also had
disappeared in the meantime.
Young Reed at once rode to Cambria
and another party went to CORTLAND
and within a few minutes hundreds of
people from both villages were at the
bank of the river and boats were secured
and the search for the body started.
Fish spears, graphing hooks and fire
hooks were brought down, but it was not
until nearly II o'clock Sunday morning
THAT the body was located by Jens
Knutsen, who was dragging fire hook
from the rear of his boat.
Although there seemed to be no
question that the drowning was absolute
ly accidental, the authorities thought it
best to make thorough investigation
and accordingly an inquest was held
Monday forenoon at CORTLAND. The
coroner of Nicollet county, J. F. Merritt,
Sheriff Olson and County Attorney Geo.
T. Olson, all of St. Peter, arrived upon
the scene Sunday afternoon and i'm
paneled jury, which on Monday fore
noon returned verdict of accidental
drowning, without laying the blame in
any manner. It was thought at first
that the condition of the road at that
point would come in for criticism by the
county officials and the jury.
The victim of the accident is farmer
residing near Cambria and has lived in
that vicinity for number of years. He
was about forty years of age, was married
and besides the grief-stricken widow
leaves four small children. Funeral
services will be held today from the late
home of the deceased and interment will
be made at the Cambria cemetery.