KOBLISKA, Leonard c1917-1943

KOBLISKA

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 8/22/2015 at 13:54:44

ELMA FARMER
DROWNS IN CEDAR
RIVER, MITCHELL

Leonard Kobliska, 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Kobliska of Elma, was drowned in the Red Cedar river a mile north of Mitchell at 6:00 p.m. Sunday. He was in a motor boat with Thomas Pollock and H.J. Erion, both of Elma, and had been fishing during the afternoon. The boat capsized opposite the Lawrence Ask farm. The body was not recovered until 27 hours later.

Kobliska, who wore rubber boots, sank at once, but the other two men managed to reach the boat and hang into the sides. Polleck, the only one of the three who could swim, grasped Kobliska as he rose to the surface and tried to get him to take hold of the boat, but the drowning man, in his terror, fought wildly, and pollock was forced to release him. He again went down and wasn't seen again.

The other two men made their way to shore and Mrs. Ask, who was alone at the farm, heard their cries and summoned help. The water was about 30 feet deep where Kobliska went under.

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Source: Mitchell County Press-News, 8 JULY 1943