Ericksen, Arthur 1881-1914

ERICKSEN, ERICKSON, BRODIE

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/29/2013 at 09:27:28

Note: Erickson is on the gravestone.

YOUNG MEN DROWNED

ARTHUR ERICKSEN AND COLIN BRODIE DIE TOGETHER

ONE TRIED TO SAVE THE OTHER

Fatality Occurred in Mink Creek on Sunday Afternoon When They Were Engaged In Stretching a Seine Across the Stream.

Two families are plunged in grief over a tragedy which occurred on Sunday afternoon when Arthur Dricksen and Colin Brodie, two well known young men in this community, lost their lives by drowning.

Just how the fatality occurred will never be precisely known as there were no eye witnesses and just what happened is largely a matter of conjecture. In the afternoon Colin Brodie was visiting his brother-in-law, Arthur Ericksen, at the latter’s home near Brunsville and in company with the hired man,

Bernard Goedert, they went down to the Mink Creek, which flows through the Ericksen farm to fish. The had seine with them and started to put it across the creek which at the point they were at is widened by a large pool. The found the rope was too short and Goodert went back to the house to get a rope. When some time later Goedert returned to the creek he could see no trace of his companions, although he saw some clothing on the bank. He thought the other two were playing a prank on him and had gone to some other part of the creek. He waited around for sometime and at length becoming alarmed he commenced a search and finding no trace of them went to the Ihnke Harms house and with Fred Dirks and young Harms began to make further search.

Dirks went into the water and repeatedly dived at the spot where the clothing was on the bank. He had made several attempts and had nearly concluded to desist from his efforts when his foot caught in the net. As he came up he grabbed the net with one hand and as he did so the head of Arthur Ericksen bobbed up above the water before the eyes of the horrified spectators.

The body of Colin Brodie was found lying in shallower water a little distance from the place where that of Arthur was dragged to the surface. Ericksen had on his clothes while young Brodie was stripped off. It is assumed that one or the other got tangled up in the net and that his companion went to his assistance and both met death. Both were good swimmers.

The bodies were taken in a handcar along the railroad track to Brunsville. Physicians were hurriedly on the spot but their services were of no avail as it is supposed the youths had been dead for more than two hours. The fist body was pulled out of the stream at half past six and the other half an hour later. Hundreds of people flocked to the scene of the accident from Le Mars and surrounding points.

The grief of the relatives at the sudden disaster is deep and consolation and sympathy are offered by many friends who in their words of condolence feel that only the gentle and healing hand of time can assuage the grief of the heart-stricken widow, the parents, brothers, and sisters in their terrible loss.

Both of the unfortunate young men who met death while attempting to save each other were born and reared in this county.

Arthur Ericksen was born at the old homestead which is still occupied by his father, Hans Ericksen. It is only a mile and a half from the place where fate cut him off in the pride and glow of health and young manhood. He was thirty-three years of age, having been born on March 1, 1881. He attended school and grew to manhood in the country and since arriving at man’s estate has proven himself a successful and progressive farmer and a splendid citizen.

He was united in marriage four years ago last February with Miss May Brodie and she with a little boy, Wallace, two years old, is left to mourn an ideal lover, husband and protector. Beside the widow and child he is mourned by his aged parents and four sisters, Mrs. Malcom Fredell, of Miles City, Montana, Anna, Ida, and Josephine still at home and a large number of relatives and friends living in the vicinity.

Funeral services for the young men will be held, as is fitting, conjointly on the same day and their bodies will be laid to rest in the quiet country church cemetery at Crathorne, near the church in which in their early years they attended Sunday school and heard the teachings of a divine love and a future inheritance.

A brief service will be conducted at the Brodie home, south of Crathorne, today at one o’clock, followed by a brief service at the Ericksen home and services will be held at the Crathorne church at half past two o’clock.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Tuesday, June 16, 1914
Le Mars, Iowa