RIVER CLAIMS WORKER’S LIFE TUESDAY

Fell From Barge While at Work. Was Said to be a Good Swimmer

NOT RECOVERED YET

Richard Evans, 26, of Blair was drowned in the Missouri river northeast of Fort Calhoun at 10:30 Tuesday morning while working with a river construction gang of the Morrison, Glasscock and Connor Co.

Evans leaves a wife and small child. He has resided in this city practically all of his life, and is well known here.

The drowned man was reported by fellow workers to have been working on a barge on the upstream end. At the time of the accident, he was engaged in securing the barge by means of a winch which was tightening a rope run out into the water. Evans was using a long bar on the winch, and in some manner either lost his hold or the bar slipped, throwing him into the water. As he went down, he grabbed frantically at nearby timbers, but was unable to make a firm grasp. His gloves and cap immediately came to the surface, and assistance was provided should the man come to the surface. Six boats were immediately launched in an effort to locate the body, but to no avail.

The supposition is that Evans was carried in under the barge by the current of the river and was unable to rise to the surface. He was reported to be an excellent swimmer, and could have easily made his way to safety had he had an opportunity.

#2-27 May, 1937 - The Enterprise

RIVER WORKER’S BODY FOUND

The body of Richard Evans, river worker, who was drowned on May 11th, was found Friday, May 21st. The body was found in the river almost due east of Fort Calhoun and about a quarter of a mile from where he went down.

Evans was working on a barge, and at the time of the accident was engaged in securing the barge by means of a winch which was tightening a rope that was run out into the water. In some manner he lost his footing and fell into the river.

He never rose to the surface. His companions made every effort possible to locate the body, and fearing that his body might be covered with the mat work which they were laying, the work was stopped for several days. After fully deciding that the body had drifted beyond the project on which they were working, they resumed the work.

Deceased was a resident of Blair, and was married and had one child. He was twenty six years of age. The wife and child survive. Funeral services were held last Saturday morning at ten o’clock, and burial was made in the Blair cemetery.

#3-May 13, 1937- The Pilot Tribune- Richard Evans

RICHARD EVANS FALLS OFF BARGE AND IS DROWNED

BLAIR MAN, AGED 26, IS SURVIVED BY WIFE AND INFANT DAUGHTER

EXTENSIVE SEARCH IS MADE FOR BODY

VICTIM FELL FROM BARGE WHILE AT WORK NEAR FT. CALHOUN TUESDAY MORNING AND DID NOT REAPPEAR: HAD BEEN RECENT WPA EMPLOYEE

The first local fatality for 1937 on the Missouri river improvement work was marked up Tuesday morning when Richard Evans, 26, of 511 East Jackson Street, fell from a barge in midstream while working near Fort Calhoun and was drowned.

Fellow workers said that Evans was working towards the front of the barge when he fell into the water, and apparently was swept under the barge by the current, for he did not reappear. Frantic efforts to locate him were futile.

No trace had been found of the body at noon today.

Evans known to his friends as “Red”, had only recently left the WPA rolls to join the river crew, and was employed by Morrison, Glasscock and Connor Construction Company at the time of the accident.

Born in Thurston County, Nebraska December 31, 1910 Evans came to Blair in 1924 and had resided here since. He was married at Papillion December 23, 1933 to Miss Margaret King of Blair. She survives, as does an 18-month-old daughter, Irma. Also surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Zeno Evans of Omaha and several brothers and sisters.

Death of Mr. Evans brings to four the number of Washington County men drowned in connection with the Missouri river work during the past 20 months. Roy Engle, 25, of Washington, Nebraska, fell off a barge September 18, 1935, and was drowned; Ditlof Wolsman, 40, of Blair was drowned November 29, 1935, when trapped under his truck when it crashed through a ramp; and Al Nelson, 24, of Blair, was drowned August 20, 1836 while attempting to jump from one barge to another in midstream.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #114419821