The treacherous Missouri river added another victim to its unending mortality list when Sunday afternoon it snuffed out the life of Fred Sillik, who with his wife and children lived on the island in the river, just east of Ft. Calhoun.

With Wm. Vincent, a neighbor, Mr. Sillik was attempting to cross the river, from the Iowa side, in a boat in which was loaded a heavy disc plow. When about 100 yards from shore the boat capsized in the deep, swift channel and endeavoring to cling to the boat, Mr. Sillik was dragged down to his death. Mr. Vincent, although an elderly, managed to swim ashore, but was nearly exhausted from his efforts. Mr. Sillik’s son Fred, about 12 years old, and a man named Davis were in another boat, but too far away to render assistance to the drowning man. His last words were, “Vincent, I can’t get out of here, but if you do, tell the folks goodbye for me.

No trace whatever of the body has been found, which fact adds to the distress of the family.

Mr. Sillik had lived on the island several years, farming a large tract, and by hard work and good management was overcoming the natural disadvantages of the location. He was well known in Ft. Calhoun, doing most of his trading here, and was regarded as a man whose word could absolutely be relied upon, and was well thought of by all who knew him.

Note: Since the actual death date was not given, the news article date was used in order to input this record.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~