Info from the Shelbyville Republican Newpaper - 1 May 1947
FRED BALTING, MILL OPERATOR, RIVER VICTIM
Efforts to recover the body of a 62 year-old man who drowned in the swollen waters of Big Blue river at Freeport yesterday afternoon were continued last night by city, county and state police officers.
Victim of the tragedy was Fred Balting, for many years operator of the old grain mill at Freeport.
The accident which took the mill operator's life occurred shortly before 3:00 o'clock. According to a son-in-law of the victim, William Goble, also of Freeport. Mr. Balting had been rowing a flatboat in the waters above the dam. It was thought that he had been rowing close to the banks and attempting to dislodge some logs and other debris swept downstream by the flood waters.
Mr. Goble said that the boat was nearing the full force of the current in the middle of the river and shouted to his father-in-law to turn toward the bank. In a moment, however, the boat was swept over thrown into the river. Mr. Goble said that the drowning victim tried several times to hold onto the boat and also the ecge of the dam, but finally sank beneath the water. Mr. Goble, who has one leg in a cast from a recent operation, and who walks with the assistance of crutches, was powerless to make any direct attempt to give aid. He summoned others, however, and then Shelbyville police were called to take an inhalator to the scene in case the victim could be brought from the water within a few minutes. State police and the sheriff also were called.
The Shelbyville Red Cross boat waslaunched above the dam and manned byCity Officers Norman Mellis and John Beatty, but efforts to recover the body proved futile at that time. The river current was so strong that it was neccessary to extend a rope from one end of the boat to the bank, where the rope was snubbed around a tree, before an attempt could be made to launch the craft. Until finally dislodged by police, the boat which capsized with Mr. Balting was held close against the downstream side of the dam by the undercurrent. After it was dislodged, the victim's boat floated downstream, where it was recovered by state police.
The drowning victim was widely known throughout the Freeport vicinity and had operated the old mill in that community since 1925. He is survived by the widow; three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Huntsinger, Mrs. Lottie Moore and Mrs. Erna Goble, all of the Freeport community, and a son, Paul Balting, of Shelbyville.
Among officers answering the call for help were City Policemen Lloyd Mellis, Norman Mellis, John Beatty and Garrell Richey; State Police Sergeant Don Phipps and State Trooper Charles Longstreet and Sheriff Fred Gravely.
FRED BALTING, MILL OPERATOR, RIVER VICTIM
Efforts to recover the body of a 62 year-old man who drowned in the swollen waters of Big Blue river at Freeport yesterday afternoon were continued last night by city, county and state police officers.
Victim of the tragedy was Fred Balting, for many years operator of the old grain mill at Freeport.
The accident which took the mill operator's life occurred shortly before 3:00 o'clock. According to a son-in-law of the victim, William Goble, also of Freeport. Mr. Balting had been rowing a flatboat in the waters above the dam. It was thought that he had been rowing close to the banks and attempting to dislodge some logs and other debris swept downstream by the flood waters.
Mr. Goble said that the boat was nearing the full force of the current in the middle of the river and shouted to his father-in-law to turn toward the bank. In a moment, however, the boat was swept over thrown into the river. Mr. Goble said that the drowning victim tried several times to hold onto the boat and also the ecge of the dam, but finally sank beneath the water. Mr. Goble, who has one leg in a cast from a recent operation, and who walks with the assistance of crutches, was powerless to make any direct attempt to give aid. He summoned others, however, and then Shelbyville police were called to take an inhalator to the scene in case the victim could be brought from the water within a few minutes. State police and the sheriff also were called.
The Shelbyville Red Cross boat waslaunched above the dam and manned byCity Officers Norman Mellis and John Beatty, but efforts to recover the body proved futile at that time. The river current was so strong that it was neccessary to extend a rope from one end of the boat to the bank, where the rope was snubbed around a tree, before an attempt could be made to launch the craft. Until finally dislodged by police, the boat which capsized with Mr. Balting was held close against the downstream side of the dam by the undercurrent. After it was dislodged, the victim's boat floated downstream, where it was recovered by state police.
The drowning victim was widely known throughout the Freeport vicinity and had operated the old mill in that community since 1925. He is survived by the widow; three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Huntsinger, Mrs. Lottie Moore and Mrs. Erna Goble, all of the Freeport community, and a son, Paul Balting, of Shelbyville.
Among officers answering the call for help were City Policemen Lloyd Mellis, Norman Mellis, John Beatty and Garrell Richey; State Police Sergeant Don Phipps and State Trooper Charles Longstreet and Sheriff Fred Gravely.
Info from the Shelbyville Republican Newpaper - 1 May 1947
FRED BALTING, MILL OPERATOR, RIVER VICTIM
Efforts to recover the body of a 62 year-old man who drowned in the swollen waters of Big Blue river at Freeport yesterday afternoon were continued last night by city, county and state police officers.
Victim of the tragedy was Fred Balting, for many years operator of the old grain mill at Freeport.
The accident which took the mill operator's life occurred shortly before 3:00 o'clock. According to a son-in-law of the victim, William Goble, also of Freeport. Mr. Balting had been rowing a flatboat in the waters above the dam. It was thought that he had been rowing close to the banks and attempting to dislodge some logs and other debris swept downstream by the flood waters.
Mr. Goble said that the boat was nearing the full force of the current in the middle of the river and shouted to his father-in-law to turn toward the bank. In a moment, however, the boat was swept over thrown into the river. Mr. Goble said that the drowning victim tried several times to hold onto the boat and also the ecge of the dam, but finally sank beneath the water. Mr. Goble, who has one leg in a cast from a recent operation, and who walks with the assistance of crutches, was powerless to make any direct attempt to give aid. He summoned others, however, and then Shelbyville police were called to take an inhalator to the scene in case the victim could be brought from the water within a few minutes. State police and the sheriff also were called.
The Shelbyville Red Cross boat waslaunched above the dam and manned byCity Officers Norman Mellis and John Beatty, but efforts to recover the body proved futile at that time. The river current was so strong that it was neccessary to extend a rope from one end of the boat to the bank, where the rope was snubbed around a tree, before an attempt could be made to launch the craft. Until finally dislodged by police, the boat which capsized with Mr. Balting was held close against the downstream side of the dam by the undercurrent. After it was dislodged, the victim's boat floated downstream, where it was recovered by state police.
The drowning victim was widely known throughout the Freeport vicinity and had operated the old mill in that community since 1925. He is survived by the widow; three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Huntsinger, Mrs. Lottie Moore and Mrs. Erna Goble, all of the Freeport community, and a son, Paul Balting, of Shelbyville.
Among officers answering the call for help were City Policemen Lloyd Mellis, Norman Mellis, John Beatty and Garrell Richey; State Police Sergeant Don Phipps and State Trooper Charles Longstreet and Sheriff Fred Gravely.
FRED BALTING, MILL OPERATOR, RIVER VICTIM
Efforts to recover the body of a 62 year-old man who drowned in the swollen waters of Big Blue river at Freeport yesterday afternoon were continued last night by city, county and state police officers.
Victim of the tragedy was Fred Balting, for many years operator of the old grain mill at Freeport.
The accident which took the mill operator's life occurred shortly before 3:00 o'clock. According to a son-in-law of the victim, William Goble, also of Freeport. Mr. Balting had been rowing a flatboat in the waters above the dam. It was thought that he had been rowing close to the banks and attempting to dislodge some logs and other debris swept downstream by the flood waters.
Mr. Goble said that the boat was nearing the full force of the current in the middle of the river and shouted to his father-in-law to turn toward the bank. In a moment, however, the boat was swept over thrown into the river. Mr. Goble said that the drowning victim tried several times to hold onto the boat and also the ecge of the dam, but finally sank beneath the water. Mr. Goble, who has one leg in a cast from a recent operation, and who walks with the assistance of crutches, was powerless to make any direct attempt to give aid. He summoned others, however, and then Shelbyville police were called to take an inhalator to the scene in case the victim could be brought from the water within a few minutes. State police and the sheriff also were called.
The Shelbyville Red Cross boat waslaunched above the dam and manned byCity Officers Norman Mellis and John Beatty, but efforts to recover the body proved futile at that time. The river current was so strong that it was neccessary to extend a rope from one end of the boat to the bank, where the rope was snubbed around a tree, before an attempt could be made to launch the craft. Until finally dislodged by police, the boat which capsized with Mr. Balting was held close against the downstream side of the dam by the undercurrent. After it was dislodged, the victim's boat floated downstream, where it was recovered by state police.
The drowning victim was widely known throughout the Freeport vicinity and had operated the old mill in that community since 1925. He is survived by the widow; three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Huntsinger, Mrs. Lottie Moore and Mrs. Erna Goble, all of the Freeport community, and a son, Paul Balting, of Shelbyville.
Among officers answering the call for help were City Policemen Lloyd Mellis, Norman Mellis, John Beatty and Garrell Richey; State Police Sergeant Don Phipps and State Trooper Charles Longstreet and Sheriff Fred Gravely.
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