Willie Burtus, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Burtus of this city, met with a sad death on Sunday last. He had been in the reform school at Eldora about two years, and running away from there had got to Ames. He and another little waif were fishing in the Skunk River near Ames, when Willie fell from the high embankment into the hole where he was fishing. The marshal of Ames, who happened to be nearby, heard a splashing in the water and went to see what it was, where he found the boy going down the second time. He called to some other men, but when they go him out it was too late. A dispatch was sent to the parents of the lad, and the father and Chas. Reiher went down and brought the body to Boone. The funeral services occurred on Monday. The little fellow that evening had caught a fish and gathered some grapes, which he had traded for something to eat. He said he wanted to come to Boone to see his mother. The statement that the child had been about Boone for some days previous is denied by those most intimately acquainted with the circumstances. The circumstances connected with the matter are particularly sad and unfortunate.
Boone County Republican August 1879
Boone County Republican August 1879
Willie Burtus, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Burtus of this city, met with a sad death on Sunday last. He had been in the reform school at Eldora about two years, and running away from there had got to Ames. He and another little waif were fishing in the Skunk River near Ames, when Willie fell from the high embankment into the hole where he was fishing. The marshal of Ames, who happened to be nearby, heard a splashing in the water and went to see what it was, where he found the boy going down the second time. He called to some other men, but when they go him out it was too late. A dispatch was sent to the parents of the lad, and the father and Chas. Reiher went down and brought the body to Boone. The funeral services occurred on Monday. The little fellow that evening had caught a fish and gathered some grapes, which he had traded for something to eat. He said he wanted to come to Boone to see his mother. The statement that the child had been about Boone for some days previous is denied by those most intimately acquainted with the circumstances. The circumstances connected with the matter are particularly sad and unfortunate.
Boone County Republican August 1879
Boone County Republican August 1879
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