Metzner, Misses Ida & Pauline - drowned 1905

METZNER, HUBBARD, NELSON, ASH, LANGE

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 3/13/2014 at 01:45:21

Sad Drowning at Humboldt
Humboldt, Iowa, Aug 24 - Special to the Evening Journal.
One of the most heartrending accidents that has ever happened in tis city occurred here last night, and today the entire city is under the darkest gloom. Misses Ida and Pauline Metzner, daughters of Postmaster Metzner, two of the leading society girls of Humboldt, were drowned in the Des Moines river about a quarter of a mile above the dam.

Pauline was about 25 years of age and is the Deputy Postmistress here, while Ida was 29 years old and was a popular school teacher.

Yesterday afternoon the two girls in company with Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Hubbard and Mr. Chas. Nelson went in a boat up the river, taking their suppers along for an evening picnic. A severe storm came up before they had started for home. At 10:30 o'clock the storm abated and they started home. Before going far another heavy storm struck them and they went ashore.

Nelson thought he could take the boat alone and reach town and come after them in a carriage. Pauline wanted to go with him and in attempting to get in the boat, slipped on the muddy embankment and fell, capsizing the boat in twelve feet of water. Nelson made a desperate effort to save her, having her in his arms when they appeared on the surface twice, but the third time he came up she had gotten away from him and grasping an overhanging limb he was saved.

Ida in her great excitement slipped from the bank, striking her head on a stone and was also drowned. Mr. Hubbard was helpless to save them and with great difficulty restrained his wife in her excitement from jumping in after her friend.

The body of Ida was found close to the shore soon after the arrival of friends, but Pauline's body was not found until 2 o'clock this morning. Mr. Nelson is about 25 years of age and is said to have been engaged to Pauline, all three of them being graduates of the Humboldt high school.

~The Evening Journal, Thursday, August 24, 1905 (Webster City, Hamilton co. Iowa)

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Humboldt, Aug 25 - Struggling in the roaring waters with two victims of an overturned boat, Pauline and Ida Metzner, grappling with death just beyond his reach, Charles Nelson was forced to witness the sickening tragedy, but powerless to render aid. The two girls sank before his very eyes. Death and the elements combined against the little boat load of precious human freight and won the weak, defenseless fight made for life.

Nelson and the two girls went for a row upon the river. While some distance from shore the storm came up, overturning the craft and throwing its occupants into the water. The blinding rain which followed, together with the inky darkness that settled down upon the ill-fated crew, rendered Nelson powerless to save the girls who, unable to swim, were easy victims of the waves. The girls, sisters, were 25 and 30 years of age.

~The Iowa State Bystander, Des Moines, Polk co. Iowa, August 25, 1905

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Double Funeral at Humboldt - The funeral of Pauline and Ida Metzner, who were drowned in the Des Moines River at Humboldt last week, was the largest attended funeral in the history of Humboldt County. Over 1,400 people passed by the coffins, while there were at least 600 others unable to get into the Congregational church. The Odd Fellows and Rebekah lodges took a prominent part in the services. The father of the two unfortunate sisters, who is serving a twenty-five year sentence for killing the city marshal in 1901, was present, having been granted permission by Gov. Cummins.

~Cedar Falls Gazette (Of Interest in Iowa column), September 8, 1905

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Poor Julius Metzner
Julius Metzner, the convict whom Gov. Cummins permitted to leave the prison at Anamosa to attend the funeral of his two daughters, who were drowned in the Des Moines river at Humboldt a few evenings ago, was convicted of the murder of the town marshal of Humboldt in 1901. He is fifty years of age and it is likely that the day he spent at the graves of his daughters will be his last outside of prison walls. Metzner has served four years and was sentenced to serve twenty-five. Being accustomed to drinking and beating his wife, she called the marshal. Metzner waited behind a tree and shot the man through the heart. He was a miller. Permission to leave the penitentiary is granted but rarely.

~The Daily Freeman-Tribune, Saturday, August 26, 1905 (Webster City, Hamilton co. Iowa)
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Source: Decorah Republican Aug. 31, 1905 P4 C1

Drowned at Humboldt.
The sad intelligence of the death of Miss Pauline Metzner, who had been visiting at the Lange home near Bluffton, but had returned to her home at Humboldt the previous Saturday was received last Friday. She and her sister were boating on the Des Moines river when the boat capsized and both were drowned. Mrs. Ash, who accompanied her here, left for her home last Satur­day afternoon to attend the funeral.

Added 18 May 2019-Karen