Warren Lee Banks (1902)

BANKS, ROBBINS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 10/18/2009 at 18:58:02

Winterset Madisonian – July 10, 1902
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SAD DEATH BY DROWNING

Warren Banks, of Scott Township, Drowned in Middle River While Bathing Below the Buffalo Bridge.

Warren Banks, aged 24, the youngest son of Josiah Banks, of Scott township, was drowned yesterday in Middle River at a place about one mile south of Winterset. Hundreds of people were going to and from the river to see the flood water, Middle River being out of banks and at the highest point for several years. Shortly before noon Warren Banks and Ren Bishop bantered each other to swim from the Buffalo bridge to the ice house below, a distance of about a quarter of a mile. Both were excellent swimmers and swam with the current with little exertion. When about one hundred yards below the bridge Banks caught hold of an overhanging limb and remarked that he would stop and rest awhile. Bishop swam on and soon after was followed by Banks, who had not gone far when he shouted for help apparently being seized with cramps for the water was unusually cold for the time of year and he was known to be a good swimmer. Parties watching from the bridge ran to his rescue but he sank the third time before help could arrive. Members of the Maccabee lodge to which the young man belonged, procured a boat and attempted to drag the river but their work was of no avail owing to the high water. The work was resumed early this morning but up to this time the body has not been found.
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Winterset Madisonian – July 17, 1902
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Banks’ Body Found.

The body of Warren Banks who was drowned in the Middle river on Wednesday of last week was recovered on Friday afternoon. A diligent search was kept up from the first but the high water made it impossible to conduct the search with any hope of success. On Thursday night and Friday the river fell rapidly and about two o’clock in the afternoon, Harry Pender discovered the body near the east bank of the river a short distance below the ice house and probably four hundred yards below where he sank the last time.

Funeral services were held Saturday at 10 a.m. from the home of his sister, Mrs. C. A. Robbins on east Court Avenue; interment in the Baptist cemetery north of the city.

The services were conducted by Rev. L. E. Follansbee the pallbearers were from the Maccabee lodge and company G served as an escort, the burial being attended with military honors.

Note: Burial was made in the Primitive Baptist cemetery.

Gravestone Photo
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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