Robert Link

LINK, OLEARY, CARRIGG, RYAN, STROHMEYER, HENKEL, COADY

Posted By: Ann Arlen
Date: 1/13/2010 at 22:50:29

Dubuque Telegraph Herald, 18 July 1937, page 1, column 6.

BOY, 14 DROWNS IN MISSISSIPPI

Robert Link Goes Under at head of Grimm's Island

The Mississippi River claimed another victim here Saturday afternoon when Robert Link, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Link, 2344 White Street, drowned at the head of Grimm's Island, a short distance north of Eagle Point.

The boy, a member of a Boy Scout troop of Sacred Heart Chruch, was swimming with other members of the troop in the river when he suddenly disappeared beneath the water.

The other boys made frantic efforts to rescue him, but were unable to locate him.

Girl Locates Body

Ben O'Leary, a city fireman, his wife and other adults on the island at the time were attracted to the scene and proceeded to dive for the body. The boy had been in the water about half an hour, it was estimated, when Miss Dorothy Carrigg, a member of the O'Leary party, located the body and, with the assistance of Mrs. O'Leary, removed it from the water.

Scout Sounds Alarm
In the meantime, a member of the Boy Scout party, made his way to the locks at Eagle Point, where he sounded the alarm. Fire Chief William Ryan and Fireman Eldon Strohmeyer and Francis Henkel rushed to Eagle Point in the chief's car and then went to the island by boat.

The firemen worked over the youth for about an hour, after which Dr. C. C. Coady, the county coroner, pronounced him dead. The body was then brought to Dubuque and taken to an undertaking parlor.
The youth entered the water about 2:30 o'clock and the tragedy occurred shortly afterwards.
The deceased was born in Dubuque Feb. 5, 1923 and graduated from the eighth grade at the Sacred Heart School this year. He was also a member of Troop 12, Boy Scouts.
Besides his parents he is survived by three sisters, Lorraine, Marian and Reta [per submitter, spelled wrong in article, should be Rita], a number of Aunts, Uncles and Nieces.
The body will be taken from the Didesch Funeral Home to the family residence Sunday afternoon.

The funeral will be held from the family residence to the Sacred Heart Church Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary.