Albert G. Williams 1906-1915

WILLIAMS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/21/2012 at 23:14:03

River Claims Another Victim
Little Son of Arthur Williams Falls Into River and is Drowned
The Body Not Yet Recovered
Constant Search Since the Accident Has Failed to Bring Body to the Surface

The Des Moines river claimed another victim last Friday [March 19, 1915] afternoon about four o’clock. Albert Williams, the eight-year-old son of Arthur Williams, being the unfortunate child to be taken this spring. Arthur, with his smaller brother and one other little boy, were searching for pussy willows. They crossed a narrow strip of ice to a small island just west of the city power house. Immediately south of this island the water is rather quiet and it had frozen over. It seems the boys ventured out on this ice to push a box into the water (or some other purpose, there being several stories as to their intention). The ice was thin near the edge and Albert slipped in. This was close to the current and he was soon in the center of the stream, which is extremely swift as it passes down the channel dredged there for it. The cry of the other boys brought several to the river, but none in time to be of any assistance to the little fellow, who battled to the last.

Tom Benson, a Western Electric line man, was working close by but he had to take off his climbers and other iron equipment and this was a loss of time. He got within about thirty or forty feet of the boy at one time. Above the bridge was an ice gorge and the little fellow went down about one hundred feet north of it. From the appearance he was sucked under by a swift current flowing under the ice. Just as he went down he gave one mournful cry, and that was the last seen of him.

The fire whistle brought an immense crowd to the river, and searchers have been at work every day since and portions of the night. Rafts were built and all of the boats that could be found were brought into pay. On Sunday evening search lights were used, but nothing was found of the body.

It was thought that owing to the fact that there was so much waste material in the bed of the river it would be almost impossible for the body to pass under the bridge, and most of the work has been done under and above that point.

Many are still working, endeavoring to locate the body, but from all appearances they will have to wait until it raises to the surface. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 24, 1915)

Clarence Williams came up from Vinton last Saturday, called here by the unfortunate death of his brother’s little boy. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 24, 1915)

Reward Offered
A reward of fifty dollars has been offered for the recovery of the body of Albert Williams, who was drowned in the river on Friday last. Work still continues, but to this writing the body has not been found. The search light made by the city power house was good, but did not prove effective as territory to be covered was too great to accomplish much, and the ice – hindered the work. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, march 24, 1915)

River Gives Up Albert Williams
Some Boys Fishing Below Bridge Thursday Afternoon Saw Body Floating Down River
Short Distance From Drowning Place
Body Taken to Mahlum and Anderson’s Undertaking Establishment and Funeral Held Friday

Friday afternoon the body of Albert Williams who was drowned in the Des Moines River at this place was seen floating down the stream by [type missing]. He gave the alarm and in a short time many citizens were working along the banks in an effort to find the body. Geo. Bradley, William Draper and Councilman W. J. McIlveen recovered the body. It was lodged against the stump of a tree which projected into the water about six feet, near the old slaughter house. A raft was made but much difficulty was found in getting a rope across to the west side of the river. Oscar Nelson volunteered to swim the river carrying a wire across which made it possible for them to transfer the raft to the other side, where the body was recovered. A reward was offered but these gentlemen would not accept it so it was given to the boy’s mother. Considering the length of time the body was in the water it was in a fair condition. The overcoat and coat which the boy wore at the time of his death were both missing. The remains were taken to the Mahlum and Anderson undertaking parlors to be prepared for burial. Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at the Baptist church, conducted by Rev Catlin.

Obituary
Albert Williams was born in Colorado Springs, March 1, 1906. He was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Williams. He moved with his parents to this city last year. The boy’s short life has been a series of narrow escapes from death. His constitution was weakened by a serious siege of pneumonia. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 5, 1915)

Body in River Over a Month
The Treacherous Des Moines Gives Up Remains of Little Williams Lad
Boy Was Drowned March 19
All Efforts to Secure His Body was in Vain – Floated to the Surface Last Thursday
Without any conception of the feelings of the father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Williams, whose little son, Albert, was drowned in the Des Moines River here on March 19th, there was the greatest relief and satisfaction to the citizens of Estherville, when the little body of Albert Williams was taken from the river on last Thursday afternoon at about 2:30. Search had been made since the day he was swallowed up by the river and only last Sunday a boat went down as far as Graettinger, looking for the remains.

There was a great many fishing along the bank, Thursday afternoon, below the bridge. As near as we can learn, Ole Grinde, a young lad who came over from Norway about two weeks ago, was the first one to see the body. He was fishing two blocks below the bridge when he saw the body float swiftly by. He at once notified a woman on the river bank who rushed over to Mrs. Hanson and had her call the mayor. It was but a few minutes until men were rushing to the river in great numbers. Two or three cars went to the south bridge. Wm. Draper with a load of men got there first. Oscar Nelson and George Shadle, each with a load arrived soon after. The Draper party took the south side of the river and the others the north. About half a mile up the river, Wm. Draper, Geo. Bradley and Councilman McIlveen discovered the body lodged in the root of a big tree. It was found about at the old ford south of the slaughter house on the south bank and the work began to get it over the north shore. After several attempts to swing a cable across the river, Oscar Nelson swam the river and carried the cable across. A raft was pulled over to the north shore, and the remains placed thereon and were pulled to the north shore where the undertaker took charge of them.

The little fellow was laid to rest on Friday, this being his ninth birthday.

The fact that this little fellow could not be found was a strain to the entire community, and it is a fortunate thing the body raised in the daytime as it was carried down the river with such rapidity that persons walking on shore could not keep up with it. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 5, 1915)