Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Frederick C. Geerkin Drowning
May 9, 1895
SMALL BOY DROWNED.

Sad Accident Near the Columbia Street Bridge.

Frederick C. Geerkin, Aged About Seventeen, Meets With a Sad Death
---The Body Recovered.

This morning, about 10 o’clock, Frederick C. Geerkin, the seventeen-year-old son of Frederick H. Geerkin, of No. 38 Eliza street, met with death by drowning in the Maumee river, just below the Columbia street bridge.

The young man, in company with a newsboy named Ira Croy, of 58 Harmer street, and Charley Dinnen, of 314 Horace street, had gone to the river to fish. During the past few days the stream has risen about three feet and the boys started to wade to the small island, or rather rock pile, which formerly made a resting place for one of the piers of the old bridge. The current was quite swift and in crossing Fred stumbled on a stone and fell. As he did so he tried to grasp the hands of one of the boys but the current was too swift and he was borne down to a point where the water was ten feet deep.

The other lads shouted for him to swim and hurried on across. Fred made an effort to reach the shore but not being a very good swimmer soon sank.

The alarm was soon given and Superintendent Liggett and Lieutenant Lapp at once went to the scene. A boat and a long hook were secured and Henry Hazzard, J.W. Craigue and Joseph Beamer, after two hours’ search, succeeded in finding the body.

For some months past Fred has been employed as a caller by the Grand Rapids and Indiana railway, but lately he has not been working. His father is a Pennsylvania company machinist.

The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon, at 2 o’clock, from the St. Paul’s Lutheran church, on Barr street.

The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN 9 May 1895