Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-03-26
pb,NeAs CASE, OF sol DiERs'
HOME, RESCUED PROM SINK
ING IN MIRE.
HELP ARRIVED NJvsr IN
TIME TO RESCUE VETERAN
Only Veteran Of Mexican War In Sol.
diers' Homo Becomes Mirsd While
Crossing Bos-had Sunk to Hips
When Found-Nsarly Overcome by
Exhaustion When Saved.

Phineas Case, aged 90 years. OF
Usage, a member Of the soldiers home
and the only veteran of the Mexican
war who is at the home, came close to
meeting death in a bog near the Iowa
river In the rear Of the home grounds
Monday. Had 1t not been that by
lucky chance a dark object was seen
struggling in the weedy bog by a vet
eran, who was at distance In the
park, Case would in a short time have
sunk in the mire and drowned in the
mud, quick sand and water.
When rescued he was so completely
exhausted that after being dragged out
of the mire it was thought for time
that he would die. He revived, how
ever, and altho forced to keep to his
room all Tuesday may not suffer any
i'll effects.
Sinks in Overlooked Ground.
Case was out for a stroll in the
grounds, and had wandered toward
Knapp's boat landing in the rear Of
the park. Between the higher ground
near the well, and the boat landing.
there is stretch of low land that
very recently was flooded with high
water. Case started across this bog
to reach the landing on the river bank
After he had got part way across
it. and seventy or eighty feet from
solid ground. ne began sinking deeper
with each step. Gradually he sunk
above his shoe tops, then half way to
his knees.
PROSTATE When Found.
When the mud. sand and water was
clutching his legs we'll toward his
knee. the aged man found he could
not walk farther. He was carrying a
cane. With 1T he braced himself and
pulled out one foot. but when he did
so. the cane sank far into the mire.
When he pulled out the cane. the
freed foot sank deeper and all the
time the other foot was pressing deep
er and deeper into the mud.
1t was not long before Case could
not raise either foot out of the mud.
which by this time was clutching him
above the Knees. Deeper and deeper
he sank until he was in up to his
thighs. then TO his hips. Nearly ex-
hausted and all but overcome, he said,
he stopped over and, pressing his
hand against the mud. sought to free
himself. His hand sank to his wrist,
then his elbow, and when he was
found he was UP to his hips in mud
and his arms weN in to the shoulders.
Dragged Out With Rope.
o The veteran who was first attracted
by the struggling object he saw at a
distance, investigating closer saw that
the object was a man, and then ran
for help. Quartermaster Carl Shaft
ner and others hurried to assist Two
men ventured out onto the mud tax
ing with them a rope which they fast.
ened around Cases body. Dragging
on this rope and lifting as best they
could they dragged the exhausted man
out and carried him to solid ground.
He was chilled thru and his clothing
was plastered with mud. sand and
water. He was removed to the hos
pital. warmed and had his clothes
changed
Mr.. Case is one of the oldest mem
bers OF the home. but Is unusually
vigorous and active for such an old
man. He has never s.known what it
was to have to wear eye glasses.