McQueen, Royal - Died 1897

MCQUEEN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/14/2020 at 14:12:26

Source: Decorah Republican Sept. 16, 1897 P 3 C 2

Quadruple Drowning near Waverly. Waterloo, Sept. 13.—Yesterday morning Rev. Scott Hyatt and his wife, and Royal McQueen and Miss Mae Tibbitts, who is Mrs. Hyatt's sister, decided to row up the river a short distance and go in bathing. The entire party were Adventists and Rev. Hyatt is pastor of an Adventist congregation at or near Waverly. They took their bathing suits and lunch baskets and started on the fateful trip about l0 o’clock, rowing, it is presumed, about two and one-half miles above Waverly, where they landed and began festivities. The day was passed and also a greater portion of the night and there were no tidings from the party. About 2 o’clock this morning the suspense had grown so great that relatives organized a searching party and proceeded up the river, finding the boat and wearing apparel at the point indicated, about two and one-half miles above the city. Further search resulted, about 7 o'clock this morning, in finding the bodies of Rev. Hyatt, Mr. McQueen and Miss Tibbitts. Mrs. Hyatt’s body was recovered about 10:00 this morning. It was found in a barb wire fence about 300 yards below the spot where the others were recovered. The theory is that the ladies got beyond their depth, and the men in an effort to save them were carried down in the struggle. The three bodies were found in a deep pool just below where they entered the water. On account of the high-standing of the entire party, the calamity has cast all of Waverly into the deepest sorrow.