The Mena weekly star., 1918-08-15
NENA BOYS LOSE LIVES IN WATER
han Hamburger Was in Trouble and pbilio Fletcher Gave His Life in Effort to Save-Swimming
 in Irons Fork.

Dan. l6-year-old son of Mrs Ema urmbareer. a widow, and Philip, 15- ,,oar-old son of Dr. T. Nj. Fletcher and Mrs. Fletcher, all of this city, lost Isheir lives by drowning Thursday aft srnoon about 6 o'clock. The remains were brought to town about midnight and taken to the Patton undertaking rooms for preparation for burial.
 The two boys, with Gerald and liar old Callahan, Ralph and Sylvan Grei- nor and Peter and Fred Hairgrove, all under the guidance of Father IA p. Gallagher, had spent the day at the J. H. Shumaker farm, about seven miles east of Mena, in cutting wood This was in conformance to a plan of Father Gallagher's to provide fuel for the St. Agnes Catholic church for the coming winter, and on one day each week for several weeks uast he has taken bunch of the boys of his congregation out to the woods for the purpose outlined, making it a combination of healthful outing and fuel conservation.
 When the work was ended Thurs day and all were ready to start to town, choice of coming in and at tending the picture show or going swimming was given the boys. They preferred the latter, and, driving to the bridge over Irons Fork on the Cherry Hill road, Father Gallagher permitted the boys to go a short way upstream to a favorite place, eau lioning the larger boys to care for the smaller ones of the party. He then proceeded to do some work on his car, which he was using to take the boys back and forth.
 The boys rushed off on the frolic. Arriving, young Hamburger, who could swim fairly we'll jumped off into deep water He quickly cried out in distress, and Peter Hairgrove, about IT years old and the largest boy in the party, rushed to his relief. For some minutes the two struggled, Hair grove being pulled under by the fran tic youth no less than five times, and nearly drowned, at last managed 10 break loose and swim to shore. Then young Philip Fletcher, who was an expert swimmer, against the plead fngs of his companons, plunged in ,and swan 10 the drowning lad. He was grasped by Hamburger, pulled under, and neither was seen again until their bodies were recovered.
 As quickly as possible Father Gala gher was on the scene, and boys were sent to phone to town for physicians. Dr. Fletcher the father of young Philip, and Dr. P R, Watkins, started Tor the scene by auto. When they arrived the body of young Hamburger mad been recovered, and for an holr every effort was put forth 10 res euscitate him, but in vain.
 in the meantime efforts to recover the body of young Fletcher continued, put It was after 10 o'clock. when a boat had been obtained, before it was found, only about four feet from where the boys had gone down in water from 12 to 15 feet deep.
 me bodies were brought to town about midnight in the Joseph Robert truck, and were today taken 10 the respective homes.
 funeral services for both boys will oe held tomorrow morning at St ashes Catholic church. The remains oi young Fletcher will then be laid e'o rest in Odd Fellows cemetery. ItI now IS thought the burial of young saumeargeT will be delayed until Sun say awaiting the arrival of a sister from Dallas. Tex.
 .. soon after the sad accident, an old a er brother Albert Fletcher, attending sne Little Rock College at Little Rock. " was phoned for and arrived here this