The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-06-03
Swift Wafer
Takes Life
Of Girl
Betty Dutt0n browns in
Flower Creek Despite
Efforts to Rescue Her.
STUMP CATCHES BODY;
FIREMEN RECOVER IT


William Shawl to rescue the drown
ing girl, Betty Dutton, 12-year- old
daughter of Mrs. Bertie Dutton,
was swept to her death Thursday
evening in the swollen waters of
Flower creek.
The Dutton girl was at the Shawl
home visiting with the Shawl chill
dren. They crossed Flower creek
on a plank in order to see some
goats on the other side of the
stream. In returning to the house,
Betty fell from the plank into the
swift waters of the stream, which
were swollen by the spring run-off
The stream is only short dis
lance from the Shawl house and
Mrs. Shawl saw Betty as she fell
from the plank. She ran to the
stream and dashed into the deep
water attempting to reach the girl
and calling out to her to grab onto
the brush. But her efforts were
fruitless and Betty was soon car
ried from sight by the force of the
rushing water.
Realizing that her unaided eff
forts could avail nothing, Mrs.
Shawl Immediately spread the
alarm, notifying Sheriff Baney and
the Libby fire department. "A large
number Of firemen were at the fire
hall engaged in their annual clean
up when the call reached them.
They Immediately jumped into two
fire trucks and were soon at the
scene of the tragedy. Fire Chief
George Wood Immediately phoned
JAS. Reedy to watch at the mouth
of the stream and the Caboose to
send men to the bridge across Flow
er creek just west of the city. He
then sent groups of his men up and
down the stream searching for the
girl.
Her body was soon found by Rich
ard Rayome three quarters of a
mile down stream from where she
had fallen in. The body had been
caught by a stump In the middle
of the stream, the stump splitting
the flow of the water. The body
was wrapped around the stump and
held there by the pressure of the
water
Rayome Immediately called men
10 his assistance. The force of the
water was SO strong that the men
could not work safely in it and a
human chain was formed from the
bank to the stump in order to Sc
cure the body.
Attempts at resuscitation were at
once made. Mrs. Owe Larson, a
trained nurse, lives nearby and was
present when the body was re-
covered. Assisted by the firemen,
she applied first aid but unsuccess-
fully. In the meantime, DR.. J. M.
Cairns had been sent for and soon
arrived but declared the girl dead.
Sheriff Baney arrived at the
scene soon after the firemen but
says they had taken the matter SO
we'll in hand that nothing more
could be expected II should like
to say" stated Sheriff Baney, "that
the members of the fire depart
ment deserve the highest COM
mendation for the speed and eff
ficiency with which they responded
to this unusual call for aid. They
handled the matter as well as could
have been done by trained rescuers,
and this is merely one more instance
in a long list of services this eff
ficient organization has given to the
people of this community.
Funeral Services
Funeral services were held Sun
day afternoon at $3.50 o'clock from
the Gompf chapel, with the Rev
E. Roy Fort officiating. Music was
provided by the Methodist choir
Mrs. Grace Miller's Sunday school,
class, of which Betty was a mem
Der, attended in a body. Pallbear.
ers were young friends of Betty
and were Billie Shawl, Clifford
Clayton and Russell Peterson, Har-
old Blanchard and Jerry Miller
Honorary pallbearers were Wilma
McRell, Deloris McCallum, Beverl,