Howard Reynolds

REYNOLDS, CLARK, SMITH, SHEPHERD, STEWART, SAYLOR, BUDEL

Posted By: Lynn McCleary (email)
Date: 5/20/2012 at 10:08:38

The Des Moines Daily Leader, Des Moines, IA 1902-05-09

Drowned In The River – Howard Reynolds Perishes While Bathing. – He Got Into Water Beyond His Depth and Was Drowned Before Help Could Be Summoned by His Comrades – Body Was Found by Father.

Howard Reynolds, aged 15 years, was drowned in the Coon river at 5 o’clock last evening while bathing near the mile track, west of the city. In company with Will Clark, Will Smith, Robert Shepherd, John Stewart, Fred Saylor and Peter Budel, all boys of about his own age, Howard went to the river at 4:30. He was not a good swimmer and when, in playing about, he stepped off a shelving second bank into water over his head, he sank from sight. At the instant the other boys surmised he was feigning fear, but when he came to the surface the second time and uttered a cry for help they knew he was struggling for life.

The boys were stricken by panic, and rushing to the shore they hurriedly dressed and ran to the nearest telephone to summon assistance. No one saw Howard disappear for the lat time, but when the boys returned, accompanied by Sergeant Pattee and Officer Thrace, with a boat, the waters had closed over him.

H. H. Reynolds, father of the drowned boy, was informed of the drowning and hurried from his home at 1940 Twenty-second street to the river. He insisted upon being allowed to enter the boat the police officers had brought in the patrol wagon, and being taken aboard, grasped a pair of grab hooks and began dragging them along the bottom. Within ten minutes the steel hooks caught beneath one of the arms and Howard’s body was drawn to the surface and lifted into the boat. He had been in the water about thirty minutes and life was extinct. The body was given in charge of Shank Bros. to be prepared for burial.

The water was found by the officers to be quite cold, and it is surmised Howard was seized with cramps and rendered unable to help himself.