FRY, Carl Stratton (1886-1896)

FRY - WILSON

Posted By: Mary E Boyer (email)
Date: 12/30/2012 at 04:13:33

Robert Dillon WILSON was born in Hilton township, Iowa Co., Iowa, January 26, 1881, and died June 6, 1896, aged fifteen years, four months and four days.

Lewis Columbus WILSON was born in Hilton, Iowa, September 26 1883, and died June 6, 1896, aged twelve years, eight months and eleven days.

The foregoing were sons of R.W. and Mary H WILSON, of Marengo, Iowa, and brothers of Rev. F J WILSON, of Iowa Conference.

Carl Stratton FRY, grandson of R. W. and Mary H WILSON, of Marengo, Iowa, and child of William FRY, Jr., and Etta his wife, was born in Marengo township, Iowa Co., Iowa, September 11, 1886, and died June 6, 1896, aged nine years, eight months and twenty-six days.

"They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided." With their brothers, Willie WILSON, aged seventeen years,and Walter FRY, aged eleven years, the boys were bathing in the Iowa River east of this city (Marengo), while Mr FRY was busy near by. Entering the stream from a sandbar which ends abruptly at the brink of the deep and rapid current flowing out of a "cut-off", or new channel, into the old river course, as they were wading about Robbie, Collie, Carl and Walter, in quick succession passing beyond their depth, were caught by the remorseless and swift-flowing tide and swept downward. At their cry for help Mr FRY ran out into the stream, and though nearly overpowered and borne down he succeeded in rescuing Walter, who was nearest the shore. At the same time Willie WILSON, who though bathing with them was at some distance, ran to their help only to be overwhelmed by the treacherous waters just as he reached Carl FRY. Twice he went entirely under, and in spite of his heroic efforts he would have drowned only that the current loosed the hold with which Carl frantically clung to him. He barely reached shallow waters and safety in his complete exhaustion. Mr FRY turned from helping Walter to the bank, but seeing the others near the opposite side of the stream where he could not reach them, being unable to swim, he ran for a boat locked near by, but when he got it loosed all trace of the three boys was hidden by the cruel waters. The sad news reached the city about 4pm, and a crowd quickly gathered at the point of the accident, and search for the bodies began at once. About 6 o'clock that evening (Saturday) the body of Robbie WILSON was recovered near the place where he went down. The search was continued until after midnight, when there was a little delay to secure nets, etc. to aid in the work. At sunrise Sunday morning the efforts were resumed, and all that day scores of willing men dragged the river with seines and rakes, carefully exploring each point along the banks, while hundreds of sympathetic watchers followed them with profound interest. Supplies of food were sent out from the city, while ready hands prepared hot coffee for the chilled men working in the river. Sunday afternoon, about twenty-four hours after the catastrophe, the body of Carl FRY was found in a low clump of willows growing in the water, about one mile below the place of drowning. The rescue work was continued practically all night and all day Monday, a large flat boat being used to carefully dredge the river. Early Tuesday morning the last body, that of Collie WILSON, was found caught in a seine which had been placed about two miles down the river. The funeral services were conducted in the large Methodist Episcopal Church in the presence of a crowd that thronged the building and several adjacent blocks, by Rev. S.A. Gilley, assisted by Res. Judd and Randall. The song service was by a chorus of little girls from the public school, where the boys were bright and promising pupils. Text, II Peter 1:14, "The putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly." (R.V.)

All places of business were closed; court was adjourned; school was dismissed, and the entire community seemed oppressed with grief and sympathy. Over one hundred teams formed the sombre procession led by three hearses to the cemetery, where Robbie and Collie WILSON were laid in one grave, with Carl FRY near them in the adjoining lot. In the midst of this sad affliction the grace of God has been magnified in the Christian experience of the afflicted ones, and with chastened hearts submissive to the will ob God they have been enabled to gain and keep victory in their souls. "The touch of sympathy that makes the whole world akin" has made the hearts of the people susceptible to gracious influences, and there has come a spiritual uplift to many.

S.A. GILLEY

Transcribed by Mary E Boyer from the writings of Rev. Silas Alfred GILLEY (Great-great Granddaughter of Silas Alfred GILLEY)