Fort Dodge Messenger and Chronicle, Fort Dodge, IA
April 22, 1939
Page 1
BILLY BALAUN, 5, IS DROWNED IN RIVER HERE
Falls Into Stream While Playing; Body Recovered
Billy Balaun, five-year-old son of Mr. an Mrs. W. J. Balaun, 352 1/2 Tenth avenue north, was drowned in the Des Moines river yesterday afternoon.
The boy's body was recovered about 10:30 o'clock last night by Fireman Lawrence Haglund and A. J. Ryan after they had dragged the river for nearly three hours. The body had floated only a short distance from the spot where Billy fell in the river.
The accident happened about a quarter of a mile upstream from the municipal hydro-electric plant north of the city some time between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
It was nearly 6 o'clock before Billy's parents became worried because he didn't come home to supper and began a search for him.
The clue to what happened was provided by three-year-old Nicky Drzycimski, playmate of Billy and son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Drzycimski, 347 Tenth avenue north.
The Balauns knew that Billy and Nicky often played together and Mr. Balaun went to the Drzycimski home in the hope of finding the missing boy there.
Fell In River
Questioned by the Drzycimskis and Mrs. Balaun, Nicky, much frightened and upset said that "Billy fell in the river."
Police were notified, and Nicky led a party of searchers to the east bank of the river and pointed out a spot where he said Billy had fallen in. Marks indicted the missing boy had slipped down the muddy bank and tumbled into the stream.
The fire department was called and Firemen Haglund and Ryan were sent to the river with a boat and grappling hooks. They discovered the body a short distance downstream and about 15 feet from the bank.
Throwing Rocks
Calmer later, Nicky told his parents and the Balauns that he and Billy were throwing rocks n the river and got their shoes muddy. He said Billy fell in while clambering down the bank to wash the mud from his shoes.
Last night, Billy's cap was found on the porch of the Drzycimski home. Nicky had brought it home when he came back alone from the river.
The boys apparently went to the river shortly after 3 o'clock. Mrs. Drzycimski saw them together in her yard about that time but did not see them leave. Nicky came home shortly after 5 o'clock.
Billy Balaun's drowning was the first in Fort Dodge since the summer of 1937, according to records of the Webster county chapter of the American Red Cross.
Billy is survived by his parents and his grandmother, Mrs. Anna Bowd (sic) of Kent, Wash.
Funeral Monday
Funeral services will be held Monday at 8:30 a.m., at the Laufersweilers funeral home and at 9 a.m., at Corpus Christi church. The Very Rev. T. J. Davern, pastor of Corpus Christi church, will celebrate the mass of the Angels, assisted by the Rev. Father Wendell of Spencer. Burial will be in Corpus Christi cemetery.
Transcribed by Leta Koll
April 22, 1939
Page 1
BILLY BALAUN, 5, IS DROWNED IN RIVER HERE
Falls Into Stream While Playing; Body Recovered
Billy Balaun, five-year-old son of Mr. an Mrs. W. J. Balaun, 352 1/2 Tenth avenue north, was drowned in the Des Moines river yesterday afternoon.
The boy's body was recovered about 10:30 o'clock last night by Fireman Lawrence Haglund and A. J. Ryan after they had dragged the river for nearly three hours. The body had floated only a short distance from the spot where Billy fell in the river.
The accident happened about a quarter of a mile upstream from the municipal hydro-electric plant north of the city some time between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
It was nearly 6 o'clock before Billy's parents became worried because he didn't come home to supper and began a search for him.
The clue to what happened was provided by three-year-old Nicky Drzycimski, playmate of Billy and son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Drzycimski, 347 Tenth avenue north.
The Balauns knew that Billy and Nicky often played together and Mr. Balaun went to the Drzycimski home in the hope of finding the missing boy there.
Fell In River
Questioned by the Drzycimskis and Mrs. Balaun, Nicky, much frightened and upset said that "Billy fell in the river."
Police were notified, and Nicky led a party of searchers to the east bank of the river and pointed out a spot where he said Billy had fallen in. Marks indicted the missing boy had slipped down the muddy bank and tumbled into the stream.
The fire department was called and Firemen Haglund and Ryan were sent to the river with a boat and grappling hooks. They discovered the body a short distance downstream and about 15 feet from the bank.
Throwing Rocks
Calmer later, Nicky told his parents and the Balauns that he and Billy were throwing rocks n the river and got their shoes muddy. He said Billy fell in while clambering down the bank to wash the mud from his shoes.
Last night, Billy's cap was found on the porch of the Drzycimski home. Nicky had brought it home when he came back alone from the river.
The boys apparently went to the river shortly after 3 o'clock. Mrs. Drzycimski saw them together in her yard about that time but did not see them leave. Nicky came home shortly after 5 o'clock.
Billy Balaun's drowning was the first in Fort Dodge since the summer of 1937, according to records of the Webster county chapter of the American Red Cross.
Billy is survived by his parents and his grandmother, Mrs. Anna Bowd (sic) of Kent, Wash.
Funeral Monday
Funeral services will be held Monday at 8:30 a.m., at the Laufersweilers funeral home and at 9 a.m., at Corpus Christi church. The Very Rev. T. J. Davern, pastor of Corpus Christi church, will celebrate the mass of the Angels, assisted by the Rev. Father Wendell of Spencer. Burial will be in Corpus Christi cemetery.
Transcribed by Leta Koll
Fort Dodge Messenger and Chronicle, Fort Dodge, IA
April 22, 1939
Page 1
BILLY BALAUN, 5, IS DROWNED IN RIVER HERE
Falls Into Stream While Playing; Body Recovered
Billy Balaun, five-year-old son of Mr. an Mrs. W. J. Balaun, 352 1/2 Tenth avenue north, was drowned in the Des Moines river yesterday afternoon.
The boy's body was recovered about 10:30 o'clock last night by Fireman Lawrence Haglund and A. J. Ryan after they had dragged the river for nearly three hours. The body had floated only a short distance from the spot where Billy fell in the river.
The accident happened about a quarter of a mile upstream from the municipal hydro-electric plant north of the city some time between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
It was nearly 6 o'clock before Billy's parents became worried because he didn't come home to supper and began a search for him.
The clue to what happened was provided by three-year-old Nicky Drzycimski, playmate of Billy and son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Drzycimski, 347 Tenth avenue north.
The Balauns knew that Billy and Nicky often played together and Mr. Balaun went to the Drzycimski home in the hope of finding the missing boy there.
Fell In River
Questioned by the Drzycimskis and Mrs. Balaun, Nicky, much frightened and upset said that "Billy fell in the river."
Police were notified, and Nicky led a party of searchers to the east bank of the river and pointed out a spot where he said Billy had fallen in. Marks indicted the missing boy had slipped down the muddy bank and tumbled into the stream.
The fire department was called and Firemen Haglund and Ryan were sent to the river with a boat and grappling hooks. They discovered the body a short distance downstream and about 15 feet from the bank.
Throwing Rocks
Calmer later, Nicky told his parents and the Balauns that he and Billy were throwing rocks n the river and got their shoes muddy. He said Billy fell in while clambering down the bank to wash the mud from his shoes.
Last night, Billy's cap was found on the porch of the Drzycimski home. Nicky had brought it home when he came back alone from the river.
The boys apparently went to the river shortly after 3 o'clock. Mrs. Drzycimski saw them together in her yard about that time but did not see them leave. Nicky came home shortly after 5 o'clock.
Billy Balaun's drowning was the first in Fort Dodge since the summer of 1937, according to records of the Webster county chapter of the American Red Cross.
Billy is survived by his parents and his grandmother, Mrs. Anna Bowd (sic) of Kent, Wash.
Funeral Monday
Funeral services will be held Monday at 8:30 a.m., at the Laufersweilers funeral home and at 9 a.m., at Corpus Christi church. The Very Rev. T. J. Davern, pastor of Corpus Christi church, will celebrate the mass of the Angels, assisted by the Rev. Father Wendell of Spencer. Burial will be in Corpus Christi cemetery.
Transcribed by Leta Koll
April 22, 1939
Page 1
BILLY BALAUN, 5, IS DROWNED IN RIVER HERE
Falls Into Stream While Playing; Body Recovered
Billy Balaun, five-year-old son of Mr. an Mrs. W. J. Balaun, 352 1/2 Tenth avenue north, was drowned in the Des Moines river yesterday afternoon.
The boy's body was recovered about 10:30 o'clock last night by Fireman Lawrence Haglund and A. J. Ryan after they had dragged the river for nearly three hours. The body had floated only a short distance from the spot where Billy fell in the river.
The accident happened about a quarter of a mile upstream from the municipal hydro-electric plant north of the city some time between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
It was nearly 6 o'clock before Billy's parents became worried because he didn't come home to supper and began a search for him.
The clue to what happened was provided by three-year-old Nicky Drzycimski, playmate of Billy and son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Drzycimski, 347 Tenth avenue north.
The Balauns knew that Billy and Nicky often played together and Mr. Balaun went to the Drzycimski home in the hope of finding the missing boy there.
Fell In River
Questioned by the Drzycimskis and Mrs. Balaun, Nicky, much frightened and upset said that "Billy fell in the river."
Police were notified, and Nicky led a party of searchers to the east bank of the river and pointed out a spot where he said Billy had fallen in. Marks indicted the missing boy had slipped down the muddy bank and tumbled into the stream.
The fire department was called and Firemen Haglund and Ryan were sent to the river with a boat and grappling hooks. They discovered the body a short distance downstream and about 15 feet from the bank.
Throwing Rocks
Calmer later, Nicky told his parents and the Balauns that he and Billy were throwing rocks n the river and got their shoes muddy. He said Billy fell in while clambering down the bank to wash the mud from his shoes.
Last night, Billy's cap was found on the porch of the Drzycimski home. Nicky had brought it home when he came back alone from the river.
The boys apparently went to the river shortly after 3 o'clock. Mrs. Drzycimski saw them together in her yard about that time but did not see them leave. Nicky came home shortly after 5 o'clock.
Billy Balaun's drowning was the first in Fort Dodge since the summer of 1937, according to records of the Webster county chapter of the American Red Cross.
Billy is survived by his parents and his grandmother, Mrs. Anna Bowd (sic) of Kent, Wash.
Funeral Monday
Funeral services will be held Monday at 8:30 a.m., at the Laufersweilers funeral home and at 9 a.m., at Corpus Christi church. The Very Rev. T. J. Davern, pastor of Corpus Christi church, will celebrate the mass of the Angels, assisted by the Rev. Father Wendell of Spencer. Burial will be in Corpus Christi cemetery.
Transcribed by Leta Koll
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SON OF W.J. AND C.E. BALAUN
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