Roman, 11-Year-Old Son of

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Saess, Courtland Township, Is Victim.

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STEPS FROM SAND BAR INTO DEEP DEPRESSION

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Body Recovered Four Hours Later. Sister Drowned in

Same Stream, March 4,1924.

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The citizens of New Ulm had barely recovered from the shock occasioned by the drowning of Harry A. Loesch, Sunday afternoon, when the news was broadcast that the Minnesota river had claimed a second victim, Tuesday forenoon, in the person of Roman, the 11-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Suess, residing on the old Stolz farm in Courtland township, about two miles east of New Ulm.

Bathing With Companion.

Roman had gone to the Minnesota river, near the Johnson camp, with Floyd, the 11-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Guldan, South Front street, who had gone to the Suess farm at about 10:30 o’clock, Tuesday morning. The two boys went bathing in the river shortly afterward. Neither of them was able to swim.

Submerged Three Times.

Floyd says he stayed near the shore, but that Roman waded farther into the stream, a distance of approximately 25 feet. The boys were some 50 feet apart, and when Floyd turned around to look where his companion was, after having his back toward him, he noticed that Roman had disappeared. The latter came to the surface a short time later, but soon sank out of sight again, without calling for help, but when he disappeared for the second and third time, Floyd realized that his comrade must be drowning. Not able to swim, he looked about for a long stick or branch of a tree, which he intended holding out to the struggling boy, but could not find anything suitable for the purpose. Floyd ran to the Suess farm house and informed Mrs. Suess, whose husband was not at home at the time. The New Ulm authorities were then notified.

Found Four Hours Later.

The news of the drowning spread rapidly and in a short time a large number of people had congregated at the river, in the vicinity of the accident. Some 15 or 20 men scoured the surface of the stream, prodding the bottom with hooked poles, of the local fire department, while others dove into the river in the hope of locating the body. All efforts proved in vain, however, when it was finally decided to drag a hay rack through the stream. The first attempt was successful and the corpse was brought to shore, some four hours after the accident had occurred. Dr. J. W. Daniels of St. Peter, Nicollet county coroner, was notified immediately after the body had been found, and arrived here shortly before 6 o’clock for an investigation. He pronounced death due to accidental drowning,and no inquest was deemed necessary on that account.

Stepped from Sand Bar.

The position of the body indicated that it had remained near the spot where Roman was last seen by his companion. It was lying in a depression, some 10 feet deep, just off a sand bar, and the presumption is that the lad either stepped from the bar into the hole, or was drawn down by the strong current at that point in the river. It is also possible that the boy was suddenly seized with cramps,as his body was partly doubled up and his hands were folded together.

Sister Drowned Last Year.

Roman was the second member of the Suess family to lose his life in the Minnesota river within 16 months. His eight-year-old sister, Alice Hildegard, was drowned when she accidentally stepped into an air hole in the ice while crossing the stream on her way home from attending school in New Ulm, late in the afternoon of March 4, last year. Coming so close in succession, the affliction is doubly hard for the bereaved parents and sisters, who have the sincere sympathy of the entire community.

Born in Albin Township.

Roman Suess was born in Albin township, Brown county, May 20,1914. Six years ago, the family re-moved to Courtland township, where Mr. Suess had purchased the old Stolz farm, which has since been the family home. Besides his grief-stricken parents, deceased leaves two sisters, Stella, aged 13 years, and Rosella, aged 18 months.

Funeral services were conducted at St. Mary’s Catholic church in this city, yesterday morning at 9 o’clock,following which the remains were laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery here.

Brown County Journal,

July 17, 1925

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