WING, William Harrison 1858-1895

WING

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/4/2009 at 20:27:49

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
Osage News - July 7, 1895

DEATH BY DROWNING

Fatal Accident at Riverside by which Harrison Wing Loses His Life.

About five o’clock Sunday afternoon the startling news spread along the street that Harrison Wing had been drowned at "Riverside" about a mile above the dam at Brush’s bridge. A reporter for THE NEWS who hastened to the scene, learned the facts to be about as follows: John Wing had hired a team and taking with him his mother, his brothers Harrison and Fred, Miss Salisbury a cousin from Wisconsin, his niece from this city and Al Hough, who is employed in his barber shop, drove down to the river to eat their dinner and spend the afternoon. The boys took their bathing suits along and toward evening donned them and went into the river.

John swam across to the other side where he went upon the bank to rest and pick some wild raspberries. Harrison went into the water eight or ten rods below and swam part way across when he turned and tried to get back to shore. His mother hearing him ask for help, called for John who made his way to his brother’s side as rapidly as possible and tried to save him but it was too late. Harrison seemed utterly exhausted and when John got a hold of him they both went under. After another ineffectual effort John was compelled to give up and save himself when Harrison said " I’m gone and went down to rise no more. The scene is much more easily imagined than described. His mother and brother Fred, with others who had accompanied them stood helpless on the shore, while the waters closed over the struggling drowning boy. It would seem that good people might be spared such scenes and such sorrow. Mr. Hough came to town bearing the sad tidings and seeking help to find the young man’s body. By six o’clock the shore was lined with teams and people and after an hour’s search the body was located quite near where he went down, and rescued from the watery grave.

William Harrison Wing was born at Kenosha, Wisconsin, May 23, 1858 and died at Osage, Iowa, July 7, 1895, aged 37 years 1 month and 14 days.

In 1864 his parents came to Iowa and in 1878 to Osage. He learned the trade of harness maker with Mr. Creelman and continued to work at it until four years ago. Since then he has been traveling for a hardware house and was home for a visit over Sunday. Mr. Wing was a young man of good character, temperate and industrious habits and helpful to his parents. His sudden and accidental death come to the family with crushing weight. The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the home of his parents and conducted by Rev. E. J. Lockwood, pastor of the M.E. church and the Odd Fellows of which society he was a member. Though not of much avail in such a deep sorrow, yet the bereaved friends have the sympathy of all the people in this community.