Norman Ohrt

OHRT

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 9/22/2016 at 09:06:53

27 May 1948 - The Tipton Advertiser

Norman Ohrt, 5, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Ohrt of Cedar Valley, was drowned in the Cedar river seven miles south of Tipton shortly after noon Saturday, near Cedar Valley.

His sister, only 11, who attempted to save him, was swept down stream about 50 yards by the swift current and barely managed to reach safety after releasing her hold on her brother.

The boy's body was recovered in about five feet of water by Sidney Craiger of Des Moines, senior at the University of Iowa who, with other students were preparing to swim in a quarry nearby.

The boy, his sister and a brother, Donnie, 9, left their home not far from the river and were playing at the edge of the river after having clambered down steps from a bridge.

The children reported they intended to walk to an island in the river, but the smallest of the three went down in the swift water and his sister sought to save him.

Donnie Ohrt managed to reach shore and with his sister gave the alarm. Firemen from Tipton and West Liberty were sent to the drowning scene and Iowa City fireman were called. The body was recovered before Iowa City firemen arrived.

An inhalator from the Tipton fire department was used for a long period in an effort to revive the child but the attempt proved futile. The father of the children is a farmer not far from the scene of the drowning.