Elliker, C. T. - d. 1900

ELLIKER

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 1/19/2025 at 13:42:03

Drowned in the Pond
From the Baxter Era’s excellent account we condense the following particulars of the accidental drowning near that place last Monday night:
Shortly after 10 o’clock a party, consisting of Mr. C. T. Elliker, Marion Dowden, Otho Blair, Carl Webb and Harry Mann, drove to Williamson’s pond, two miles west of Baxter for the purpose of bathing. All but Dowden (who cannot swim) entered a boat, rowed to the center of the pond, and for half an hour were diving from the boat and otherwise disporting themselves in the water. By some means, when all four were in it, the boat overturned. Blair and Webb, indifferent swimmers, struck out for the shore. Elliker at once got scared and began to strangle, and Harry Mann, who was at one end of the boat – Elliker being at the other – called to Elliker to cling to the boat and he would get them to shore. Mr. Elliker , who was by this time badly strangled, lost his head, failed to obey Harry's instructions, and climbing a-top the up-turned boat, ran its full length and jumped on to Harry. The latter being unable to assist him, Mr. Elliker went down in about ten feet of water, crying out as he was disappearing, “Help! Help! Quick-Quick!”
It was but a short time before a large number of citizens gathered at the pond, the body was finally located and brought to the surface by Harry Connelly, who used a garden rake for the purpose, after it had been in fifty-five minutes. His wife, who was visiting a sister between Newton and Laurel, was at once notified of the terrible disaster that had befallen her family. The pond in which Mr. Elliker met his death, covers about half an acre. It is used by Mr. Williamson for propagating fish and it is also from this pace the community's ice crop is harvested. It is fed by springs.
Mr. Elliker was about 27 years old, had been in business here 7 or 8 years, and had built up a good trade. He was straightforward and esteemed by all who knew him. He leaves a wife and three small children.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Clipper; Friday, August 24, 1900, page 4, col. 3