Two Said Cases of Drowning - 1865

HITCHCOCK, AVERY, POWERS, GRAFFORT, COULAN, SWEENY, CANTILLON

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 6/30/2016 at 22:02:28

Dubuque Democratic Herald – July 7, 1865

Two Said Cases of Drowning – Two said cases of drowning were reported yesterday that will send grief and mourning to once happy and contented homes. James Powers, a young man of an excellent reputation employed in Hitchcock & Avery Julien House, livery stable, met his fate in a sudden and unexpected manner. About half past six o’clock, yesterday morning, he took two horses back to the slough back, of the Dubuque City Mills, for the purpose of swimming about in the water as was his usual custom to do, riding one horse and leading the other. After getting in the water it appears that the horse that he was leading pulled him from the horse he was riding, when, being unable to swim sank to the bottom, while the animals came ashore. Some attempt was made to rescue him by workmen nearby, but instead of rising to the surface as drowning men usually do, he remained at the bottom until life was extinct, and the body was recovered about a half an hour afterwards, and conveyed to his parents back of the Graffort House. He was 26 years old and respected for his many fine qualities of head and heart. His brother tends bar at the Julien House.

The other one occurred at one o’clock Wednesday night. It appears from what we can learn, that Ned Sweeny, of Galena, Ned Coulan, of Garryowen, and J. Breemhen, of Iowa City, were in Dunleith and at the above mentioned hour undertaking to cross over to this city, in an old dilapidated skiff, in a leaky condition, when in the middle of the river the boat swamped. The men commenced bailing the craft out with their hats, but their efforts were useless, as she filled with water. At this stage of the affair, Breemhen, who was a good swimmer, swam ashore for assistance, while Sweeny and Coulan, who couldn’t swim, were to hang onto the boat. It appears that Sweeny lost his hold and has not been seen since. Coulan was rescued while clinging to the boat. Sweeny and Breemhen were boatman and left the Itaeca last Wednesday because their mate was discharged. Coroner Cantillon did not think it necessary to hold an inquest on the body of Powers, as the facts in connection with his death were not shrouded in mystery. We heard at a late hour last evening that a man was drowned, yesterday, but could not learn anything definite, or any particulars. Two men in (rest of article lost.)

[Questionable spelling on J. Breemhen, his name is bloated out with heavy ink.]