Tragic Drownings in the Humptulips and South Aberdeen
Two lives, including a young man and a six-year-old child, were claimed by the local waterways in separate accidents.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Walter J. McConnell, who came to this country not long ago from Wildomara, Cal., was drowned on Wednesday of last week near the mouth of the Humptulips River. McConnell was 23 years old and an excellent swimmer. At the time of his drowning, he was with E. Lindemuth taking a cow and her calf across the river. The tide had been running in for four hours, and in crossing, McConnell got beyond his depth and likely suffered cramps. His body was recovered by Constable Robt. Lowery. Additionally, the 6-year-old daughter of C. Steineger fell into a slough in South Aberdeen last Thursday while playing and drowned before help could reach her.
“He must have been siezed with cramps, as he went under and was not seen again.”
Early Aberdeen was defined by its relationship to the water, which served as both the engine of the economy and a constant, often fatal, hazard. These tragedies reflect the vulnerability of residents in an era before modern waterfront safety measures.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.