Clyde Wood (1899)

WOOD

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 2/17/2009 at 14:04:49

Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, July 27, 1899
Page 2

A SAD DEATH.

Clyde Wood Drowned Before a Crowd of Companions
They Could Not Save Him.

Six Companions Struggle with the frightened Boy Until They are Exhausted. Tragedy the Sequel to a Sunday Swimming Excursion.

After clinging to an overturned boat and struggling with his would-be-rescuers for nearly ten minutes, last Sunday afternoon at Dabney’s pond, a mile west of town, Clyde Wood, the 16 year old son of Postmaster A. L. Wood, sank before the eyes of his companions. A number of boys including young Wood had gone to the pond for an afternoon’s fun. Clyde, who could not swim went out with others on the pond in a small row boat. In their play the boat was capsized.

The boys tried to get Clyde to hold onto the overturned boat, but he was so frightened that he would let loose and sink. Several of the boys, who were all small, attempted to rescue him, but they could do nothing more than hold him up a little while when they became exhausted and had to let him go. Ed Danforth, who has just taken charge of the pond, was on the opposite shore. He ran to the rescue as quickly as possible and rushed in with part of his clothes on. He made a brave effort to save the drowning boy, but failed. He was so exhausted that it was necessary to throw him a rope to get him out, and he required the attendance of a physician to restore him. The body of Wood was recovered by diving and brought him to town. Mr. and Mrs. Wood and children were picnicking with some friends out on North River. Dick Thompson went out to break the sad news to them, and it was more than two hours after the fatal accident that they reached home.

The funeral services were conducted at 4 o’clock Monday afternoon by Revs. Jacobs and Riheldaffer, and the remains were interred in the Rock City cemetery.

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