Marvin Smothers 1912-1925

SMOTHERS

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2012 at 12:43:35

Mapleton Press
6 August 1925

Two Boys Drowned Sunday While Hunting Frogs for Bait

Bodies Discovered By Farmer Living Near

EDWARD WEDDLE AND MARVIN SMOTHERS VICTIMS OF POND
THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN SHALLOW

Marvin Smothers and Edward Weddle, each 12 years old, met Sunday at the Will Allen home southwest of Mapleton. Their friendship was brief, for in a few hours both slipped into eternity together.

News of their deaths by drowning spread like wild-fire. Every effort was made to rescue them, but life was denied them. The Weddle lad, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Weddle, living between Mapleton and Ticonic, had gone to the Allen home- Saturday evening with his elder brother, Robert, to spend Sunday, Sunday afternoon the Smothers boy and his young sister, Eva and Hattie, also came to the Allen place.
Stop at Creek
Marvin and Edward struck up a companionship at once. They were almost the same ago and resembled twins in nature. All afternoon they played together.

Late in the afternoon Edward invited Marvin and his sisters to ride with them on their way home. The invitation was accepted.

When they neared a creek on the Lutz farm occupied by Joe Sokolvske, Marvin asked that the car be stopped. He told his friends that here was a small pond where frogs could be caught.

Marvin climbed out of the car, accompanied by Edward. They asked Robert and the Smothers girls to wait for them while they caught bait for fishing.

Robert Gives Alarm

The pond is not visible from the road, so the boys could not be seen from the car. Robert and the girls remember having heard a splash. They waited and waited. Finally they grew impatient. Robert called for his brother several times and when he received no response, he went to investigate.

He was horrified when he saw a pair of feet several inches under the water. Robert, about 16 years old couldn't swim. He rushed to the automobile and frantically sought aid. He went to the Sokolvske farm yard. Sokolvske was not at home.. Then he went to the next nearest place, the
Anton Hansen farm, Sokolvske was there visiting Mr. Hansen, his daughter, Anna, and Sokolvske rushed to the creek. Indications were that the water was only a few feet deep. Sokolvske dived into the pond. He failed to reach bottom. The water was cold as ice, brush and debris made the hole treacherous. A rope was then tied about Sokolvske body so that he would not be in jeopardy himself.
Rescue Efforts Fail

After a time, the bodies were recovered. They were found laying almost side by side in at least 12 foot of water.

Dr. F. J. Stodden who, had been summoned made every effort to restore breathing, but life apparently had passed out an hour before and thus ended the brief friendship of the lads.

The presence of the pond was known only to a few. A shallow stream passes beneath the bridge. It is fed by springs on the farm. When a new bridge was built last year, the course of the stream was slightly changed. This left a small dam, hidden by steep embankments on all sides.

The theory is that the boys thought the water to have been shallow. Whether one of the boys slipped into the pond accidental and whether the other tried to rescue him is not known. It is also considered likely that both tried to wade and that both lost their footing at the same time.

The bodies were taken to the Smothers home and prepared for burial. The next day the body of the Weddle lad was taken to the Weddle home.
Mother Sinking

Marvin was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Smothers. He was born September 5, 1913. Besides his parents he is survived by two sisters. Edward Weddle is survived by his parents and one brother, Robert, and four sisters. The sisters are: Mrs. Gertrude Range, of Kimball, S.D.; Mrs. Elizabeth Porter, of Lyons, Mrs. Edith Dake, of Lyons, and Funny Harris.

Edward Weddle’s sudden passing is likely to mean more grief at the Weddle home. Mrs. Weddle has been ill for many months—so ill that she can scarcely speak. Members of the family say she is slowly sinking.

Funeral services for the Smothers boy were held at 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church, at Ticonic, with Rev. Irwin officiating. Burial was in the Grant cemetery. The Weddle youth was laid to rest Wednesday afternoon. Services were held at the home at 2 o'clock with Rev. G. V. Dunn, officiating. Interment was made in Center cemetery.

Tombstone Photo
 

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