JEFFRIES, Fred

JEFFERIES

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 1/12/2002 at 17:29:36

Clinton Daily Herald Friday September 8, 1899 Vol. 33 No. 7 p. 5 Sad Accident Fred Jefferies Drowned in the Mississippi Was in Bathing Thursday Afternoon and Got Beyond His Depth Was son of J.Q. Jefferies Body Recovered Soon After Drowning About 4:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon, the Mississippi river claimed another victim, the unfortunate person being Fred Jefferies,the son of J.Q. Jefferies. Fred was attending the business college and at the close of the school went to the river with a number of other boys to go in bathing. They were in the river a short distance north of the old saw mill of the Clinton Lumber compnay, where the boys supposed the water was not deep. Fred was wading out toward a raft tied a short distance from shore. An alarm was given, but the young man drowned before help reached him. Searching patires were soon hunting for the body, which was recovered about an hour and a half later by Geo. p. Brown and Chas. McKinley. The remains were taken to Knowlton's undertaking establishment and were prepared for burial. When found the body was a considerable distance below where it went down, showing that the current was stronger than any not acquainted with the water at this point would think. Deceased was the eldest son of ex-County Superintendent J.Q. Jefferies and had just reached his sixteenth birthday. He was born in this city, a short distance from the place where the sad accident occurred. About a year ago he was confirmed as a member of St. John's Episcopal church and was a member of the vested choir. He was a bright and promising young man and his untimely death is deply mourned. Monday morning he entered the Clinton Business College, with the intention of taking the commercial course, and although htere but a few days, he made many friends with the pupils, who join with the grieved paretns in their bereavement. The funeral services will be held from the St. John's Episcopal church, tomorrow afternoon, at 2:30, followed by interment in Oakland cemetery.