West Branch Times, West Branch, Iowa, Thursday, August 4, 1921
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, June 30, 2018
DUAL DROWNING IN CEDAR RIVER SATURDAY
The call for help in recovering the bodies of the drowned came again last Saturday afternoon from Cedar Valley, where two promising young men, Thos. Fitzpatrick and Earl Gatens, lost their lives to the treacherous waters of the Cedar.
They, with eight others who had been members of a threshing crew, had gone into the water to refresh themselves after threshing on the Daniel Gatens place. The young fellows had crossed the river to a sand bar and the two victims of the tragedy were . . . was low. Suddenly they stepped off into a deep hole, and both being unable to swim, were drowned before the eyes of their horror stricken mates.
The call for help was immediately raised and many rushed from West Branch and the surrounding country. The fire chief of Iowa City came with divers and their paraphernalia, but it was W. Williams who succeeded in locating both bodies of the unfortunate young men in less than two hours after the drowning.
Pulmotors were used and every effort put forth to resuscitate them but to no avail.
Earl Gatens was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Gatens; and Thos. Fitzpatrick the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Fitzpatrick. Young Fitzpatrick had been home only a week, having just been discharged from service in the army.
Both were popular young men and the tragedy is a shock to a host of friends.
Double funeral services were held Monday morning at nine o’clock from St. Joseph’s church. Father Knebel of Tipton had charge of the services.
Taken from the August 11, 1921 issue of West Branch Times
The funeral of Thomas E. Fitzpatrick and Earl W. Gatens took place at St. Joseph’s church, Cedar Valley, on Monday, August 1st, at 9:30 a.m. Rev. H. A. Knebel celebrated the requiem high mass and pronounced the last absolution and delivered the funeral sermon. St. Mary’s choir, of Tipton, sang the mass. Matt Thiel sang an Ave Maria at the offertory of the mass, also a solo at the end of the mass.
It was the largest funeral ever held in St. Joseph’s church. The auditorium and gallery of the church were filled to capacity and all available standing room in the aisles and rear of the church was filled, while many could not gain entrance to the church. Interment was made in the St. Joseph’s cemetery.
Thomas E. Fitzpatrick was born at Cedar Valley on the 17th day of Feb. 1902, where he spent most of his life. About six months ago he enlisted in the army and spent most of this time in a military camp in the state of Washington. His father needing his help on the farm requested his release, the petition being granted, and Thomas had arrived home only four days before the fatal accident.
Besides his parents he leaves to mourn his untimely death four sisters and two brothers as follows: Sister Mary Agatha of St Joseph’s Convent, Ottumwa, Iowa; Genevieve of Iowa City; Agnes and Bernadine at home; Henry of Lansing, Iowa; and Chas. at home.
Earl W. Gatens was born October 14, 1903, at Tipton, Iowa. Later he moved with his parents to Cedar Valley. He was the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Gatens. Besides his parents he leaves to mourn his sad death three sisters and one brother, all at home, viz: Ethel, Paul, Ruth and Rosella. He is survived by his grandparents also, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Moylan, of Tipton.
Both of these young men were good practical Catholics, their lives were above reproach, and there remains after them the memory of two lives well spent. They both served as altar boys together at St. Joseph’s church, and later attended St. Ambrose College together. Rev. Wm. L. Harmon, president of St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, was to be present at the funeral, but the rain prevented his coming.
In the death of these young men Cedar county loses two exemplary young lives who were esteemed by all who knew them. Their sudden and unexpected deaths came as a heavy blow upon their parents, to whom the sympathy of the entire community is extended in their bereavement.
