Hays family, Iowa Township
This article about the Hays family in Iowa Township was found in the Thursday, May 28, 1903 issue of the Manning Monitor, on microfilm, at the Manning Monitor in Manning, Iowa. (Transcript by Retta Williams)
SMALL BOY DROWNED
LISLE HAYS MEETS HIS DEATH IN THE RAGING 'BOTNA
Little Lisle M. Hays, ten-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hays, while attempting to float a board on the water last Friday noon slipped into the swollen river, just a few rods in the rear of his home and was drowned.
No one else was near except his little brother, who was younger than himself, who saw him go down to his watery grave. He immediately ran to the house and informed his mother, who ran to the creek, frantic with grief, and would have jumped in, in hopes of saving him, if she had not been stopped.
The word soon spread over town and in an hour's time, there were over fifty men in search of the child, but owing to the fact that the water was so high and ran so swift, it was a very difficult matter to do, but everything they could do was done.
The water subsided very fast and by 4 o'clock, a new idea was conceived to find the boy, which was proved to be successful. A long rope was secured and ran from one bank to the other with plenty of men on each end to hold it, and then some sixteen, volunteered to go in and wade down the stream, standing so close together that they could not miss him.
As the water had been so swift, they suspected the boy had washed down some distance by that time. He was found about 40 rods below where he first slipped in and was taken to the Undertaker Mueller's store and washed down and dressed before taking him to his home.
Lisle was a bright boy and loved by all his little playmates, many of whom watched with interest for his recovery.
The funeral was held from the home at 1 o'clock last Saturday, Rev. Giffen of the Presbyterian Church officiating, after which the remains were taken to the Arney Cemetery, some four miles northwest of the city, followed by a long concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends. The bereaved parents have the deepest sympathy of the entire community in their sad affliction.
The undersigned desire through the columns of this paper, to thank the many friends for the many kind acts received from them during the search and burial of our dear little son, Lisle. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hays
Contributed by Alan Williams