Since the founding of Aberdeen, hundreds of people have spent their final moments of life thrashing wildly in a futile effort to stay afloat, before succumbing to the cold waters that surround this city. For adults, the shorelines, rivers and sloughs that make up so much of Aberdeen are where they made a living. The same waterways are a dangerous draw for children, sometimes ending in a parent’s worst nightmare. To fight the death toll, Aberdeen was the first city in the state to require swimming be taught in grade schools. That said, here are six drowning deaths that occurred during the summer 115 years ago as reported in the pages of the Aberdeen Herald.

Three deaths by drowning – On Friday two bodies were found floating in the Wishkah River. The first, that of Nels Nelson, was found during the forenoon, resting on the mud near the North Aberdeen Shingle mill, and the second, that of A.A. Medley, was found floating at the mouth of the Wishkah River at 1:30 p.m.

The bodies were removed to the Aberdeen Undertaking Parlors, and Coroner Campbell sent for. The body of Nelson was identified by his clothes, and later the father identified it as the body of his son, Nels.

A.A. Medley’s body was identified by papers on his person, and by a meal ticket of the Atlantic Hotel in this city. The paper’s showed that Medley’s home was in Newberg, Oregon, and his friends were notified, who instructed that the body be buried here.

Nels Nelson has been employed on the gasoline launch Fearless that plies between Aberdeen and the upper Wishkah, and he must have fallen into the river some time on the night of Saturday, June 30, as he was at his home on Saturday evening. On Monday Mr. and Mr. Nelson went to Seattle to spend the Fourth, and knew nothing of the death of their son until they were met at the train on Friday afternoon by Undertaker Randolph and asked to come to the morgue to identify the body.

Nels Nelson was 27 years of age. He was buried from the chapel at the undertaking parlors, Saturday forenoon, the Rev. O. Rosing, of the Scandinavian Lutheran Church, officiating.

A.A. Medley was 30 years of age, and had friends in Newburg, Oregon, and his father resides in Freewater, Oregon; he had friends also in Edna, Wash., the latter arriving arriving on Saturday to take charge of the body, which was buried from the undertaking parlors on the arrival of the train.

On Friday morning, a scow belonging to Gilbert Eede was found drifting in the Wishkah River, near the boom, with a light burning, and its occupant missing. It was immediately suspected that Mr. Eede had fallen off and was drowned, and the river in that vicinity was dragged for the body. Yesterday morning the search was successful and the body was brought to the surface at the Wishkah boom. It was taken to the Bowes & Randolph morgue, and the coroner notified. Gilbert Eede was a native of the Hawaiian Islands, 73 years of age and followed the sea for many years. He resigned the position of mate on one of the largest English vessels afloat to go to Africa and engaged in the Boer War, where he lost an eye.

He recently purchased the scow, which had a cabin in which he lived alone, and made a living jobbing with his boat on the Wishkah River. He was an industrious man of excellent habits, and was well regarded by all who knew him. He is known to have two daughters residing in England, and some friends in Seattle to whom he had been heard to say he was soon going to make a visit.

The funeral took place this afternoon from the chapel of the Aberdeen Undertaking Parlors, Re. Chas. McDermoth officiating. — Aberdeen Herald, July 26, 1906

OAKVILLE – Matt Mieme, the 19-year-old son of John Mieme, of Independence, Oregon, was drowned in the Chehalis River near the Indian school, Sunday. He was trying to learn to swim and got into some very deep water. Another boy who was with him attempted to help him but was unable to do so. The body was not found until Monday afternoon. — Aberdeen Herald, July 26, 1906

The body of Edward Thein, who was drowned in the Wishkah River while bathing Monday afternoon, was found Tuesday forenoon by Thomas Van Nuncle. Mr. Van Nuncle, who has had experience in recovering the bodies of drowned persons, said the body of Thein would be found about 60 yards from the point where he went down, and in about a half an hour’s time brought the remains to the surface. The funeral took place from Bowes & Randolph’s undertaking parlors yesterday, Rev. Father Gerrand officiating. The pall bearers were John Brecht, George Damitio, John McGillicudy, Tom Black, John Black and Eugene McGilicudy. — Aberdeen Herald, July 26, 1906

Small boy drowned – Klemence Szymanski, aged 11 years, was drowned yesterday afternoon in the Wishkah River, while playing with other boys in the water. The four boys, ranging in age from 10 to 12 years, were playing on the bank of the river, near the brickyard (present day Stewart’s Field), and had dragged an old door to the river, which they proceeded to use as a raft.

In a short while, the raft overset and threw the lads into the river. Hardy Crandall was nearby and heard the cries of the boys, and plunged in after them. Two of the boys swam ashore, and two were unable to swim. One of the latter was seized by Mr. Crandall and taken to the bank, and he immediately made an effort to save the fourth, the Szymanski boy, but who sank out of sight before he could reach him.

The body was recovered in about an hour, and taken to the home of the boy’s parents, in East Aberdeen, from whence the funeral will take place as soon as arrangements are perfected. Although the boy had been in the water an hour and fifteen minutes, Dr. Watkins worked on the body for more than an hour, in a vain effort at resuscitation. — Aberdeen Herald, June 11, 1906

The funeral of Klemence Szymanski, the boy who drowned in the Wishkah River Sunday, took place yesterday morning, from the residence of his parents, in East Aberdeen, services being held in the Catholic Church. — Aberdeen Herald, June 14, 1906

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and has the greatest respect for rivers, lakes, and sloughs. Be careful out there this summer.