Umphres, William c1884 - 1896

UMPHRES

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/10/2021 at 09:43:28

Source: Decorah Republican June 18, 1896 P 3 C 2

Boy Downed at Nashua.
Post:—Last Sunday at 12 o’clock William, son of J. H. Umphres was drowned while bathing in the arm of the Cedar river known as Hawkins’ slough. The drowned boy, who was nearly twelve years old, went down to the river with two younger brothers who did not enter the water. The river was swollen by heavy rains and the current was strong. When William entered the water he dove from a large stone on the bank and went into water about six feet deep, and not being a very good swimmer and in a strong under current, he was carried down stream and never came to surface after the plunge, as his brothers on the bank who were watching for his appearance never saw anything of him but his feet, which appeared once just above where the body was found. His little brothers ran to the house of a friend and gave the alarm. People were soon at the scene of the accident, but the silent waters gave no sign of Willie. The channel of the slough was narrow at this point, was polled and dragged by men in boats and the body was recovered at 2:30 p. m. in seven feet of water fifty feet from where he dove.