Dale Mahurin

MAHURIN, COCKLIN, KENT, BOYER

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 6/25/2010 at 21:44:41

Source: LCHS scrapbook; newspaper clipping with handwritten date of 1912.

LAD IMPRISONED ON PIER WITH TRAGEDY

SEES COMPANION DROWN-UNABLE TO GIVE THE ALARM FOR THREE HOURS.

MAIL CARRIER HEARS

Fearing to Attempt Swimming to Shore and Unable to Climb to Top of Bridge Howard Cocklin of Grandview Suffers Harrowing Experience.

Grandview, Ia., July 27. - (Special) - Imprisoned on the narrow dimensions of a wagon-bridge pier, unable to climb to the top of the bridge and afraid to attempt to swim to the shore of the Iowa river, an attempt which had already cost his young companion his life, Howard Cocklin, of this city, aged 15, yesterday waited for three hours for some passersby to cross the wagon bridge at the "Hogback" between this place and Wapello, before he could give the alarm of his companion's drowning.

Such was the harrowing experience which the young Grandview lad was called upon to endure yesterday, following the drowning of Dale Mahurin, aged16, also of this place. After three hours of waiting, a rural free delivery carrier drove onto the bridge and Cocklin was able to attract his attention and tell the story of Mahurin's death. The mail carrier took the word to Wapello and aid was sent to rescue Cocklin and begin the work of recovering his companion's body.

Sees His Companion Drown

The two lads had been wading yesterday morning on a sandbar in the Iowa river. Finally they swam from the bar to the bridge pier. After resting awhile, they decided to swim to the shore. Mahurin, who started first, apparently found the distance beyond his power, or was drawn down by treacherous currents, as he gave up and sank in the waters of the river. Young Cocklin, terrified by what he had seen, feared to go to the rescue of the larger boy, doubting his own powers if his stronger companion had failed - feared even to attempt the feat of swimming ashore. He attempted to climb up the pier onto the bridge, but fell back, narrowly escaping serious injury. Then his long vigil began. Young Cocklin believes that the drowning of Mahurin occurred about 11 o'clock yesterday morning, and it was not until about 2 o'clock that the mail carrier came along and Cocklin was able to tell his tragic story.

The body of young Mahurin was recovered late in the afternoon. The remains were taken to the home of the lad's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Kent, who reside on a farm near here. the funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Methodist Episcopal church of Grandview.

Formerly Lived in Muscatine

Dale Mahurin, the drowned boy, was the youngest child of the late Rev. and Mrs. Francis Marion Mahurin, the former a Methodist minister and a pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Wapello several years. ago. After giving up his pastorate at Wapello, Rev. Mahurin and his family moved to Muscatine, residing on East Hill for several years, until their removal to Clinton, where the former died following a long illness six years ago. Mrs. Mahurin passed away at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Kent, near Grandview, about three years ago. The only son, Dale, continued to make his home with his grandparents until the tragedy yesterday. He was born in Wapello sixteen years ago. He is survived by one half-sister and three half-brothers, as follows: Mrs. H.C. Boyer, of Wapello; Robert Mahurin, of Rock Island; Walter Mahurin, of Muscatine, and Henry Mahurin, of Laclede, Mo.