Woellstein, Roger 1895 - 1908

WOELLSTEIN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:20

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer July 14, 1908, FP, C1,2,

DEATH BY DROWNING.
Roger Woellstein Drowned While Swimming at the Quarry.
Seldom has it been our lot to chronicle a sadder affair than the drowning, last Friday evening, of Roger Woellstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Woellstein.
The copious rains of the past weeks have converted the Hallman stone quarry in the northwest part of town into a small lake of varying depths, shallow in places but in the deepest part a depth of 20 feet or more is reached. As it is in a somewhat unfrequented part of town, a large number of the boys of the town have been using it as a swimming resort, among them the Woellstein boy who, in company with Chap Marshall Jr., and Jimmie Nichols went to the quarry about 7:30 on Friday evening to enjoy their sport of swimming after the oppressive heat of the day.
The Marshall and Nichols, boys are good swimmers and had swam across a deep hole in the quarry several times, when Roger essayed the feat. He was warned not to do so by his companions but persisted in the attempt, when about half way across and in one of the deep spots he must have become exhausted for he threw up his hands and called for help. His companions went to his aid and told him to lay a hand on the shoulder of each of them and they would take him to shore, but he was so frightened that he seized Jimmie Nichols who felt that he was being drawn under water and escaped from his grasp by diving away from him. Next Roger grasped the Marshall boy about the neck and they both sank to the bottom of the quarry when Chap disengaged himself and came to the surface. Roger followed him, but the former was so full of water and so well nigh exhausted himself that it was all he could do to reach the shore himself, when he threw a part of an old bedstead out to Roger who was too much exhausted to grasp it.
Chas. H. Miller lives near the quarry and heard some commotion and went out to investigate and heard the Marshall boy frantically calling for aid. He rushed to the quarry and saw Roger come up almost to the surface of the water and entered the water to help him but was so weighted down by his clothing that he could not swim. This was the last seen of the unfortunate boy until the body was removed from the water about one and one-quarter hours later.
Owing to the extreme depth of the water and the fact that ledges of rock and piles of rock existed in the quarry, it was unsafe for anyone to dive for the body and so boats were sent for, and several men equipped with rakes attached to long poles commenced the search. E. P. Webber after a few minutes search located the body which was brought to the surface, and for over an hour, Drs. Scripture, Daly and Thomas did their upmost to resuscitate the boy, working faithfully against an almost certainty that life had departed, but all to no avail.
The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon at the Congregational church, where Roger attended Sabbath School. Rev. Hinman officiated alone in the absence of Rev. Pless who was detained at home by illness. Interment was in New Oregon Cemetery.
Roger was born in New Oregon township, October 15, 1895, and has lived most of his life in Cresco where he had a wide circle of acquaintances and friends among both young and old alike. He was a universal favorite among his school and playmates and was admired by those of more mature years for his quiet, and manly ways. Seldom has the death of a young person brought such universal sorrow to the people of our city. The sorrowing father, mother and sister have the sincere sympathy of all in their bereavement, and it is not the empty sympathy of words but that which comes from the depths of the heart that has known a sorrow of its own.

New Oregon Cemetery
 

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