Richard D. Otto, 1927-1934

OTTO

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/1/2009 at 10:12:16

Boy Dies of Heart Attack in Swimming Pool

RICHARD OTTO, 6, GOES UNDER IN SHALLOW END

Was Fair Swimmer--Funeral on Monday from M. E. Church

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon in the Methodist Church at 2:30 following short services at the Sternborg Funeral Home for Richard Dean Otto, six year old boy, who died Friday [June 29, 1934].

At an inquest held by Coroner Fred. J. Sternborg Saturday morning a jury of three men, J. F. Hepp, Dan S. Howard and Vance R. Noe decided "From the evidence in this case we find that this boy, Dick Otto, came to his death from a heart attack after entering the swimming pool."

Mrs. Beulah Coleman was one of the principal witnesses called and she said that she saw the boy start to enter the water, take hold of the rope and call something to some other boys, then dive into the water. She stated that she saw bubbles come to the surface after the boy was lying face down on the bottom of the pool. She then called to the others playing there that the child did not come up. Bob Chalberg waded in and pulled Dick out and artificial resuscitation was immediately started by Maurice McCall, assistant lifeguard.

Dr. C. E. Birney, city health physician was immediately called and he stated in his testimony on Saturday morning before the coroner's jury that when he arrived the lifeguard was already working on the boy and when he first saw the body he though it was not a case of drowning. Only a very small amount of water came out of the lungs. It seems he boy had been eating green apples just a short time before he went swimming.

Maurice McCall the assistant life guard was on duty at the pool. Only one person is left on duty at the pool between 6 and 7 and he was in the bathhouse to give out baskets to the bathers and he had just gone into the engine room when the shouts of the children brought him to the scene.

Resuscitation was also attempted with an oxygen tank for an hour and a half but during that time not a spark of life was noticeable.

Richard was born in Estherville September 21,1927 and had lived here all his life. He leaves to mourn his passing his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Otto, two sisters, Doris 13, Madeline 4, and four brothers, Kenneth 19, Virgil 18, Keith 15 and Billy 10, besides numerous other relatives and friends.

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett.