Thomas Hawes

HAWES, MCCARTHY

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 1/8/2021 at 10:36:14

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Wednesday, June 13, 1894
page 1

There are two sadly bereaved families just north of town. On Sunday afternoon, those sitting along front street were startled by a bareheaded boy running up town calling for a doctor, that his brother was drowned. A crowd of people at once went to the place directed and found that the Iowa river had claimed two more victims. It seems that Charley McCarthy, accompanied by his three sons and young Thomas Hawes, had gone down to the river to take a bath. The father had finished and come to shore leaving the boys all in the water. below them a hundred yards was a deep hole which he warned them to avoid. While waiting in the shade for them to come out and paying no attention to them he was startled by the cried of the younger son saying that the boys were drowning. Mr. McCarthy at once divested himself of a part of his clothing and plunged in to attempt their rescue. He succeeded in seizing young Hawes, but was not able to maintain his hold. It was a half hour before the first body was recovered and a half hour later before the second was secured. The awful calamity was a crushing blow to the mothers of the boys who had parted from them but a short while before in perfect health.

The funeral of Hawes took place at the Methodist church at 11 o'clock a. m.; that of McCardy at the Catholic, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The funeral sermon of Tommy Hawes was preached by Rev. Pusey; that of Charley McCarthy by Father Jacobsmeyer of Washington. Both boys were borne to their last resting place by school boy companions.

These bearing the remains of Charley Mccarthy were:
Harry Owen, Frank Wilcox, Rob Wilcox, John Sullivan, Roy Parsons, Wm Mulhorn

Tommy Hawes pall bearers were:
Frank Parsons, Warren Ayers, Harry Russel, George Dill, Willie Pence, Clarence Lacey

Both boys were between seventeen and eighteen years of age and both were good, industrious young men. All profoundly sympathize with the bereaved friends.