Two girls and a man were drowned in the Mississippi river at the mouth of the Hennepin canal at noon today. The Dead Are:
Charles Abney, 45 years old, lockkeeper.
Vera Abney, 7 years old, daughter of Charles Abney
Dorothea Fahay, 8 years old.
The girls were in bathing and apparently waded beyond their depth. Cries came for help.
The lockkeeper swam to their rescue. He was carried away by the current and also was drowned.
Zelma Abney, aged 10, saw her sister and her friend struggling in the river and put out in a boat. She made a desperate attempt at rescue but failed, and was compelled to turn back to shore.
A number of campers were called and the also tried to rescue the three drowning persons. They also failed.
The bodies were recovered about an hour after the tragedy. Charles Dewrose of Moline, an uncle of the Abney girls, assisted in the recovery.
The lock is located almost at the junction of the Hennepin canal and the Mississippi river. The Rock river also runs into the Mississippi near this point.
The scene of the tragedy is about two miles north of Milan and on the edge of the northwest limits of the city of Rock Island.
Mrs. Charles Dewrose is a sister of Mrs. Abney. Mr. Dewrose received word of the drowning shortly after it occurred. He went immediately to Moline police station and secured the police lungmotor and hurried to the lock.
Surviving Charles Abney are the widow and one daughter, Zelma. Vera Fahay is survived by her parents and one brother.
The Dispatch
14 Jun. 1921, Tue-Page 12
Two girls and a man were drowned in the Mississippi river at the mouth of the Hennepin canal at noon today. The Dead Are:
Charles Abney, 45 years old, lockkeeper.
Vera Abney, 7 years old, daughter of Charles Abney
Dorothea Fahay, 8 years old.
The girls were in bathing and apparently waded beyond their depth. Cries came for help.
The lockkeeper swam to their rescue. He was carried away by the current and also was drowned.
Zelma Abney, aged 10, saw her sister and her friend struggling in the river and put out in a boat. She made a desperate attempt at rescue but failed, and was compelled to turn back to shore.
A number of campers were called and the also tried to rescue the three drowning persons. They also failed.
The bodies were recovered about an hour after the tragedy. Charles Dewrose of Moline, an uncle of the Abney girls, assisted in the recovery.
The lock is located almost at the junction of the Hennepin canal and the Mississippi river. The Rock river also runs into the Mississippi near this point.
The scene of the tragedy is about two miles north of Milan and on the edge of the northwest limits of the city of Rock Island.
Mrs. Charles Dewrose is a sister of Mrs. Abney. Mr. Dewrose received word of the drowning shortly after it occurred. He went immediately to Moline police station and secured the police lungmotor and hurried to the lock.
Surviving Charles Abney are the widow and one daughter, Zelma. Vera Fahay is survived by her parents and one brother.
The Dispatch
14 Jun. 1921, Tue-Page 12
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DAU. OF C.L. & S. ABNEY DROWNED
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