George Little

LITTLE

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 9/21/2014 at 12:24:21

George Little is Drowned Near Le Claire Dam.

Steps from boat in darkness and body is swept downstream in swift current.

George little, 45 years old, and employee of the government at the canal at le Claire, was drowned off the pump boat Mahon at 4 o'clock this morning at a point about half a mile below the lower end of the canal.

Mr. Little had been employed at the canal practically ever since the work was started. Most of the force was laid off yesterday because of the flooding of the canal when the dam broke, but Mr. Little was given employment on the Mahon.

The boat was on the way out to the channel to begin work for the day when the accident happened. As it was Mr. Little's first trip he was unfamiliar with the boat, and in the darkness stepped over the side and the current, which is strong at this place, swept his body astern in an instant. Others on the Mahon heard Mr. Little call for help, and they threw him a line. He had been carried too far down stream, however, he could not swim. The body had not been recovered up to a late hour this afternoon.

Mr. Little for many years was a farmer near Le Claire and Princeton, and he had a large number of friends in that vicinity. He had moved to Princeton recently. His wife whose maiden name was Hannah Porter, died in October, 1915.

Mr. Little leaves four children, Mae, John, Henry, and George. The oldest is 20 and the youngest 14. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Will Dittmer of Long grove and Mrs. Frank Duncan of Rock Island, and two brothers, Thomas and John.

$50 Reward for body.

Ph. H. Mc Ginnis of Princeton, brother-in-law of Mr. Little, announced that relatives offer a reward of $50 for the body .

Source: The Daily Times, Davenport, Ia., Davenport, Ia., Davenport, Ia., 18 Apr 1917, p. 18.