THREE PERSONS DROWNED NEAR DUBUQUE 1865

WINTERS, EMERSON, NORMAN

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 6/30/2016 at 15:06:25

Dubuque Democratic Herald – July 1, 1865

ANOTHER FATAL CASULATY – THREE PERSONS DROWNED NEAR DUBUQUE

On Friday there was another case of drowning caused by the raising of the stream by recent flood. A load of six persons, consisting of James Winter, his daughter about 18 years of age, Joseph Winters, his wife, son about fourteen years of age, and an infant daughter, all of whom were English people, living about four miles from town, were coming to the city, and in attempting to ford the Catfish just below the R. R. bridge near Alderman Emerson’s residence, were thrown from the wagon, and three of them drowned. It seems there had been some teams crossing during the day, but which had forded above the bridge, and Mr. Winter’s supposed he could cross in safety, but mistook the fording place. Mr. James Winters, succeeded in getting out of the water, when he saw his daughter struggling in the current, and returning to save her, both were swept away. The child, which Mr. Joseph Winters wife held in her arms at the time of the accident was drowned immediately, but she was saved after a desperate effort, by her husband, assisted by Mr. Norman’s sons, John and George, who were working in a field nearby, and Mr. Emerson, all of whom speedily went to their assistance. The boy succeeded in reaching the shore without serious damage. Mrs. Winters was very much injured, but it is thought she will recover. Had it had not been for the prompt assistance rendered by Mr. Emerson and Mr. Norman’s sons, it is quite likely the whole party would have drowned. The bridge at this place is, by order of the Council, to be repaired immediately. People traveling in the country should be very careful crossing streams, as the high water has not only destroyed bridges, but fords which before were safe have been, in many places, washed out and rendered very dangerous.