Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-01
SEES HER CHILD
SINK UNDER THE
WATERTODEATH
William James Cox, Jr-. Son OF Mr..
and Mrs. W. j. Cox browns
In City Reservoir.
MOTHER Is WITHIN 10 FEET
DIR. r. ]. Rochow Makes Heroic At
tempt TO Save Lad but
Strength Fails.

With fear IN his eyes and strug-
Cling for life within 10 feet OF ms
mother. William James Cox, JT.. age
S. son OF Mr. and Mrs. " !. Cox.
2f2O Sixteenth avenue. sank and was
drowned at 80 last night ia the
south basin OF the city waterworks
reservoir on Twenty-second street
between Fourteenth and Sixteenth
avenues
The lad with TWO other boys was
playing about the basin At 5;25
Dorothy Cox. age II. a sister OF the
victim, ran TO the reservoir to get
her brother When she arrived
there she saw him struggling in the
water The girl ran back to her
home screaming 10 her mother for
help Mrs. Cox with an infant in
her arms. rushed TO the edge OF
the water basin and attempted TO
reach her son, but was powerless.
being unable to swim. She at
tempted 10 reach his hand, but was
unsuccessful. She saw her son sink
beneath the water for the last time
and then screamed for help.
Doctor Helps.
Or. c. j. ROchow. 1912 Twenty-sec-
ond avenue. hearing her cries, ran to
the waters edge at the same time
removing a suit of OveralIs. He
managed TO get almost 10 the lad.
but did not succeed, being unable
20 swim Almost directly after the
doctor had entered the water James
Condor, 2445 Nineteenth avenue,
who was passing by the reservoir,
On noticing the commotiOn. remOv-
ed his coat. and. being an excel
lent swimmer, dove into the basin
and succeeded in bringing the body
OF the lad to the surface after div
ing several times.
The body was removed TO the Cox
home. where DR. Rochow worked
for one hour in attempting to re-
n store the lads life. Not one heart
n beat was heard after the lad had
been taken from the ".ater
According to testimony offered at
e the inquest which was held at the
Wheelan undertaking parlors. the
lad was in the water Is minutes
after he had been seen to 90 down
for the last time Although the
pulmotor was brought to the scene
il was not used The jury at the
coroner's inquest returned yer
dict Of death due 10 accidental
drowning.
Attended School.
William Cox, Jr., was born in
Rock Island on Dec. %. 1909 and,
previous to his death. attended St
Joseph's school Of this city. He
was in his third year at the insti-
tuition
The parents, sister Dorothy and
infant brother survive.
A fOur-foot wire mesh fence
surrounds the pool The lad evil
IDENTIFY had crossed over this fence
and was playing on the small grass
strip between the water and the
fence. Ii is believed that he ap-
preached too close to the edge of
the basOn and. losing his balance.
fell into the water The water is
six feet from the top of the cement
bank and is IS feet deep in places.
PulmOtor ValueIe>S.
People residing near Reservoir
park who Witnessed the incidents
Immediately following the rescue
Of the boy, today said that the pull
motor which was brought in the pO-
lice ambulance was not used be
cause there seemed TO he no one
with the ambulance who knew how
to operate the device. Not over ten
DAYS ago there was a drowning in
Milan and the pulmotOr was taken
there but was not used. it was said,
because the police officer accom-
panying It did not understand how
10 work It. The pulmotor is abso-
luteiy valueless- said people who
Witnessed the incidents following
the drowning YESTERDAY. unless the
police ambulance brings with il
some one who can operate H.
Pm THRIFT Zsf-.rysr.s