The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-03-03
BOY FALLS 10
FEET TO PIT
OF CITY POOL
Frank Ellsworth, Jr., Son of
F. G.. Ellsworth Has Mar. Z
row Escape
HITS FACE DOWNWARD
Slips From Ladder in Deepest
Portion of Cement Pit,
Near Diving Board
HITS FACE DOWNWARD

Frank Ellsworth, Jr., son of Mr..
and Mrs. Frank Ellsworth of Broad
way street, fell ten feet from the
lower wall of the municipal swim
ming pool Monday afternoon and
narrowly escaped fatal injuries. The
five year old boy was trying to
descend the ladder into the pit of
the pool under the diving board
when his foot slipped and he fell
face forward. He struck his chin
and stomach and bled profusely about
the mouth. With him was his sis
ter. Laura and other playmates.
They managed to get him to the
home of Mrs. Tong, Broadway.
Mr.. Ellsworth arrived there soon
after the accident and took his son
to a physicians office. 1t will be q
day or two before it can be ascertain
ed whether there are any internal
injuries. Some teeth we're knocked
out and the boy was resting fairly
easy today.
Complaint has been registered in
that neighborhood at the insuffi-
cheney of the fence. It is urged that
the fence should be higher and more
securely fastened at the ground.
Small children can crawl under and
insist upon romping on the diving
boards and about the ladders at the
foot of the pool.
The Ellsworth boy struck the hard
ice formed on the floor of the pool.
DR.. Brandt who made the examina-
tion after the fall said it was short Of
a miracle that the boy was not killed
falling from that distance. His
heavy cap, coat and overshoes helped
to protect him.
The two-inch mesh Chicken" net
ting fence which encloses the Mum
icipal Pool affords little protection
against entrance by enterprising
youngsters bent on play. Although
barbed at the top, it is torn down
and sags in several places to within
three feet from the ground. At the
shallow end of the pool there is a
four by three foot hole allowing easy
access to anyone. And the absence
of any board at the bottom Of the
fence posts at ten foot intervals be-
ing the only fastening makes it pos
sible for children 10 squirm under
the wire netting anywhere.
Residents of the neighborh
realizing the menace, are constantly
cautioning their children against
playing around or in the pool, parti-
cularly since there have been acci-
dents in the past. Two years ago
young Richard Tiedman of Is Thayer
Street fell from the edge at the nine
foot depth, but fortunately sustained
no serious injury. Mothers complain
that they. have frequently kept their
children indoors, rather than run the
risk of their being hurt.
Although the pool is particularly
hazardous in the winter when there
is no. water, residents say that un-
guarded as it is in the summer as
we'll, little children arc frequently
found wading in at the shallow end.
Complaints were made to the City
Commission so long ago as three
years against the inadequacy of the
fence, and while it has been repaired
4 IOhI tiuiC w IiHvS SuSu ICPoIIo nav
been of little value, and none at all
have been made during the past
winter.
Mayor Lenhart questioned this
morning as to the city's intentions.
replied that they "intended to 60 up
there today to look it over" TO
comments on the inadequacy of the
fence, he merely replied that it was
a case of "wanton destruction of pro-
perty" and he did not know how they
would fix the fence. He maintained
that as originally set up the fence
prevented access to the pool.