Jessie A. Aldridge May 22, 1878 May 9, 1920

"Father Gives Life to Save Child"
"Girl is Rescued as He Drowns" - The Seattle Times, Monday Evening, May 10, 1920.

The following article, with a photo of Jesse and his daughter, Dorothy, appeared in the Seattle Daily Times, Monday evening, May 10, 1920: "Father Gives Life to Save Child * * * * * * * Girl is Rescued as He Drowns Jesse A. Aldridge Stricken With Cramps After Becoming Overheated Repairing Numerous Punctures - Caught in Whirlpool After saving his 8-year-old daughter, Dorothy, who had fallen off a log into the water, Jesse A. Aldridge, 42, 1115 33rd Ave. N., was stricken with cramps and drowned in the Sammamish River, about a mile north of Bothell, yesterday afternoon. Andrew Monsen, 4747 California Ave., a bystander, leaped into the water and swam to the assistance of the father, relieving him of the child just as he was sinking into the whirlpool. Jessie Adlridge, 18, sister of the little girl, also dived into the water in an attempt to save Dorothy, but was unable to reach her father because of the strong current. Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge, their two daughters, and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur G. Arnold, neighbors, of 1022 22nd Ave. N. had left in two automobiles, intending to drive to Fall City to fish. Owing to tire trouble on the Aldridge car, the party changed their distination and drove to Sammamish River. 18 Punctures in 16 Miles. In the short drive of sixteen miles the Aldridge car had eighteen punctures and on their arrival at the river Mr. Aldridge and Mr. Arnold were fatigued and overheated. Aldridge ate ice cream and ran down to the water to catch fish for the children. Dorothy attempted to run out on the slippery log, which projected about twenty feet into the water. Before reaching her father on the end of the log she slipped and fell in the river. As she was swept past him her father, fully clothed, jumped in, caught her and held her above water. Mr. Aldridge apparently was standing on a ledge of rock, which enabled him to thold up the child until she was taken from him by Monsen, who also had plunged in. Monsen, a strong swimmer, barely regained the shore. Immediately after relinquishing his hold on the child, Aldridge doubled up and sank. It was not until some time later that Herbert Hetchman of Bothell dived into the hole where he had first gone down and found the body. Dorothy was unconscious when carried ashore but was restored by persistent artificial respiration. Attempts to resuscitate the father were of no avail. Witnesses were unanimous in their praise of the heroic effort made by Jessie Aldridge, who at the first cry of warning from her mother leaped into the stream and tried again and again to swim against the current to her father and little sister who were struggling in the water. Mrs. Aldridge was prostrated with grief today at her home and was under the care of a nurse. Mr. Aldridge's body was taken to the morgue and arrangements were made for its removal to the Home Undertaking parlors. Mr. Aldridge was in the employ of J. A. Campbell of the Campbell Lumber Company. He is also survived by a 16-year-old son, Elmer."