Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-10
CHARLES MORGAN IS DROWN
Ed IN THE BOONE river

knew what he was talking about
grandparents on a farm just south
of the former J. c. Sterling place.
The lads had eaten their dinner in
the woods, and after chase through
the woods for butterflies, had gone
in swimming in the hole just south
| of the Jones cabin. After remain
ing in the water about twenty min
utes, they came out on the opposite
side and played on the bank, after
which they started back across the
river for their clothes.
AS Herbert and Mack neared the
opposite shore they discovered that
Charles was not with them, and
looking back, they beheld their
friend struggling in the water in the
middle of the river. Both boys start
ed back to help him and narrowly
escaped being dragged under by the
lads frantic struggles. One boy was
seized by the leg and only by great
effort managed to free himself. The
boys then made for log on shore
and towed it out to Charles, who was
by that time unable to grasp it. He
went down in about nine feet of wa
ter and did not come up again.
| to-, hoSr fvsov q
to save their friend, went farther
down where the water was not so
deep to watch for Charles, as they
felt he would be borne down stream
by the current, but soon saw that
was useless. One lad remained in
the water watching for Charles
body while the other ran for help to
the former G. E. Ruppel farm home.
Finding no one at home, he ran
across the meadow and around by the
road to the Bert E. Pierce farm for
help. The services of Orville Berry
hill, an expert swimmer and diver,
were secured in a few minutes, and
the life motor and physician from
this city summoned. w. H. Frazier
and helpers reached the scene in
about fifteen minutes after the call.
More rescuers arrived in half
hour, but the body was in the water
an hour and half before found. 1t
was lying in very nearly the spot
where he went down, and the drawn
position of one foot and leg would
indicate that the lad had been seized
with cramps. He could swim, but
was not an expert swimmer. He was
unusually large and strong for his
age, and that fact alone probably
prevented any rescue work by his boy
friends, who are broken-hearted over
the affair.
Use of the life motor proved use
less, and scientific tests showed that
life was extinct. The lads body
was brought at once to this city and
the mother and grandparents mott
fled.
Charles was the second son of Mrs.
IC. F. Gardner, but had lived most
of his life with his grandparents, Mr..
and Mrs. G. S. MORGAN, who last
spring removed from this city to the
farm on Charles account. The lad
would have been 10 years Of age next
fall and had been worthy and en-
thusiastic boy scout for about four
years. He was a first-class scout and
had won many merit badges. The
scout motto, "a scout is trustwor-
thy" applied directly to Charles,
whose ideals were lofty and whose
short life had already given him the
thing he priced so highly-a good
name. Only few days ago he re-
marked to his grandfather, 81 think
good name is the best thing a man
can have-better than money"
Charles was clean, true and steady,
and his friendship thing priced by
his friends. He was the sort of lad
who is idolized by doting parents
and grandparents, and to these are
extended the heartfelt sympathy of
the entire community.
Beside the relatives mentioned, the
boy leaves sister and brother,
Gwendolyn and Hayward, both OF
this city, and his father, Guy Nor
can, of Charles City.
Home grown potatoes made their
appearance upon the market yester-
day and sold at so cents per peck.