James RICE

RICE, LAMB, WATTS, DEATHERAGE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/2/2009 at 16:33:52

Ringgold Record, 1883

DROWNED

James RICE and James LAMB Find a Watery Grave.

Last Friday evening a number of boys in Liberty township, went down to the river near the Moulton bridge to bathe, but the water being so high no one would venture in save James RICE, a young man about twenty years old, who persuaded and almost forced James LAMB, about nine years of age, to go in with him. RICE caught hold of the boy and started across the stream with him on his back, and finding the bank too steep on the other side turned round and started back. Ere they had reached more than halfway both went down and were seen no more. The small boys on the bank were unable to render them any assistance. The neighbors were called immediately but too late - they were helplessly hurled down the rapid current, and all searches were rendered fruitless until Tuesday morning when both bodies were found about 600 yards below where they went in. The water had gone down leaving LAMB on the bank, and RICE on the other side nearly oposite with one foot in a bush and his head on the ground. Mr. WATTS, who kindly furnished us this information, says it was a horible sight to see RICE hanging in the bush. Both bodies were buried Tuesday evening. LAMB was taken to Caledonia, and RICE to the Laird cemetery.

NOTE: James LAMB was born in 1874, the son of Joseph Ellen LAMB. He died in 1883 and was interred at Caledonia Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. James M. RICE was born in 1863, the son of Watkins and Nancy W. (DEATHERAGE) RICE.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, 2008