The Holt County Sentinel

Narrow Escape From Drowning:

Last Wednesday morning, May 14, 1904, Joe Hagins escaped what might have proved a serious accident had not help been at hand. He, in company with his sister, Gladys, and Dr. and Mrs. Klopp, went to the little Tark fishing, and stopped at a point near the bridge. Joe could not find a place near enough to the water and decided to go down on one of the large beams near the stream.

It was not long until he was joined by his sister, and not wishing to be outdone by a girl, told his sister he would show her "something else he could do," with the satisfaction of knowing she could not do likewise. He then threw his arms around the large beam on which they were standing and dropped downward with his feet and lower limbs in the water. He hung thus for a few seconds and then attempted to draw himself up again, but found his arms had lost their strength and refused to assist him, and he was compelled to call for help from his friends. Had Dr. Klopp not been at hand he would very likely have drowned as he was thoroughly frightened and unable to swim. This should be a warning to parents not to trust boys of that age alone near the river. Although no harm was done in this instance, owing to the presence of older companions, it is likely he would have drowned had no one older than his sister been with him.-Bigelow Enterprise.