Prouty, Delos died 1903

PROUTY, SHAFFER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/17/2014 at 20:46:13

Elgin Echo, Thursday, 14 May 1903.

The sad news of a fatal accident was received here early Monday morning by the relatives of Nash Prouty, of Elkader, telling of the sad accident in which a young life was sacrificed.

Sunday afternoon between the hours of five and six o'clock, Delos Prouty, the victim, with a young man by the name of Schuck and a young Jew whose name we did not learn, were out boat riding above the dam on the Turkey river at Elkader. Two or three times the boat was guided into the swift current immediately above the dam, where danger always lurks for the unwary. On reaching the dam the last time one of the oars became detached from the oar-lock and the occupants were at the mercy of the water. Schuck jumped from the boat above the dam and swam and waded to the bank where he was rescued by some fishermen who were standing on the rock wall which here forms the boundary line of the water. The boat, with its other two occupants, went over the dam. The Jew was rescued by some fishermen and when taken from the water he was in an unconscious condition, it requiring considerable work to bring him back to life.

Delos Prouty was seen to stand in the water below the dam for a few seconds but the swift and treacherous current was too strong and carried him beneath the water fall. A boat was quickly obtained and parties went to his assistance, but to no avail; the turbulent water would carry the body to the surface, then immediately suck it beneath again. Those out in the boat would see the form come to the surface, but when they would get to the place where it appeared it would disappear, but would reappear, sometimes above, then again below them. After 35 minutes of hard endeavor the body was recovered, but the last breath of life had fled from the one, who but a short time before had been joyous and full of life.

Funeral services were held at the home of the young man's parents in Elkader Tuesday morning, after which the funeral cortege wended its way to Illyria where services conducted by Rev. Wing were held at the Union church. Interment took place in the cemetery there.

C. L. Shaffer of this city is an Uncle of the unfortunate young man.

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NOTE: The IGPP shows a photo of his gravestone.

Submitter is not related.

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