Submitted by
Barbara (Caddell) Fox
Marlin Daily Democrat
Saturday, April 26, 1919
YOUTH
DROWNED IN LAKE
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BOY LOSES LIFE DESPITE
HEROIC EFFORTS OF
OTHERS TO SAVE HIM
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Despite heroic efforts to save him, Jack Criswell,
aged 16 years, was drowned in the I. & G. N. lake on the southern outskirts of
Marlin about noon today, converting a merry outing of the Junior B. Y. P. U.
into a deep tragedy. The unfortunate accident was witnessed by a number of
children, members of the organization, who were picnicking on the lake in charge
of Mrs. Myrtle Denton.
In company with a close companion, Eugene Brooks, aged
13 years, Jack was swimming across the lake at a place about 200 feet in width,
when he apparently became stricken with cramps at a point about 30 feet from the
far bank, where the water was considerably over their heads. Jack called
for help, going under three times, and Eugene went to his aid, but was so
overcome with exhaustion from the long swim that he was unable to reach his
depth with Jack without drowning himself.
In the meantime the picnic party on the other side of
the lake had seen their predicament and a number hurried to lend assistance.
Mrs. Douglass Conyers bravely entered the water, also Morris James. Mrs.
Conyers went beyond her depth, and thinking that she was in distress, Morris
went to her aid. Finding it beyond his strength to rescue Jack alone,
Eugene went to the other two and assisted them out.
The body was recovered from the lake not over 15
minutes after Jack went under for the last time, it was estimated. Rev. C.
G. Howard was one of the first on the scene, except for a negro. C. A.
Oltorf and his son, James, arrived shortly after the alarm was given. All
assisted in bringing the body from the water after James had dived down and
located it.
The alarm was immediately spread and in a short while a
large crowd had gathered. The fire department responded to the call, also
physicians, one of whom was on the scene when the body was taken from the water,
but found artificial respiration useless.
Fear was cast into the homes of many people in the city
when the news first spread, as various households were represented in the outing
party. Expressions of grief over the sad incident were universal over the
city.
While numbers of girls and boys have been bathing in
the lake recently, the water is still unusually cold and this is not the first
case of cramps attacking swimmers there during the past few days.
Jack was one of the largest boys in the party, and was
regarded as a good swimmer. He was a member of the Sophomore class of
Marlin High school, and was very popular with his playmates. The affair is
all the more sad in the fact that he and Eugene Brooks were regular pals and
went together all the time.
Surviving the dead boy are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T.
L. Criswell, who reside on Craik street, two brothers and five sisters.
The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon with a short
service at the family residence here at two o’clock, followed by burial at
Criswell cemetery in the Odds community at four o’clock.
Marlin Daily Democrat
Monday, April 28, 1919
YOUTH DROWNED HERE BURIED AT
CRISWELL
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Playmates of Unfortunate Boy Are Pall Bearers at Funeral
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The funeral of Jack Criswell,
aged 16 years, who was drowned in the I. & G. N. lake on the southern outskirts
of Marlin Saturday about noon, despite heroic efforts of comrades to save him,
was held at Criswell cemetery in the Odds community Sunday afternoon.
A short service was held at the residence of deceased’s
parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Criswell, in this city by Rev. C. G. Howard,
following which the body was carried to its last resting place where the
interment service was conducted by Rev. J. F. Kane of the Locust Grove Baptist
church, under whose pastorship deceased became a Christian. Rev. Howard
also spoke briefly.
Reflecting the general sympathy extended to the family
in their great bereavement, playmates of deceased from the Marlin schools and
the Junior B. Y. P. U. acted as pall bearers. They were J. W. Barton, S.
C. Johnson, Leo McKinney, Eugene Brooks, Dan Stallworth, and Dolas Welch.
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Among the out-of-town relatives and friends present at
the funeral services for Jack Criswell Sunday afternoon were Mr. and Mrs. R. O.
Jacobs of Rising Star; W. A. Matthews of Renner; Mrs. Gladys Etter of Corsicana;
Mr. and Mrs. M. T. Durham, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Durham, W. H. Schneider and Mr.
and Mrs. E. Moon of Mart, and J. F. Strickland of Groesbeck.
The Mart Herald
Friday, May 2, 1919
DROWNED WHILE ON PICNIC AT MARLIN
F. F. Criswell of Mart received a phone message from
Marlin shortly after noon, Saturday, stating that his cousin, Jack Criswell, age
16, son of Whit Criswell of Marlin, was drowned about noon, while on a picnic
with Marlin High school pupils at the big lake near that town.
The particulars were not given further than the sad
news of the young man’s death, which comes as a shock to Mart relatives and
friends of the family, who sympathize in this misfortune.
Marlin Daily Democrat
Wednesday, May 7, 1919
IN MEMORIAM
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At the noontide of Saturday, April 26, heaven’s gates opened and received a
noble boy---yes, our Jack. It is with sad and grieved hearts that we think
of those tragical moments when death’s angel kissed the lips of the one we loved
so well.
Jack Criswell was just developing into noble manhood,
and his life was one to be coveted. In every walk he was that same quiet,
honest, God-loving Jack. And though he is no longer with us, we shall
never, as long as the eastern sun sweeps over the western skies, forget him, and
no one can ever take his place.
Dear mother and dear father, how our hearts go out in
deepest sympathy to you, who have watched over and loved him these sixteen
years. Yet, dear ones, it is such a blessing to be able to say, “He is in
heaven.” And you have not lost him---no, not at all. You have more
to live for now than ever before. Some day you will see your dear son
again.
And dear sisters and brothers, we know your hearts.
How hard it all seems; but all things work together for the good of those who
love the Lord.
The Junior B. Y. P. U. was especially blessed by having
Jack as one of its most active members. He was always so willing to do
anything he was called upon to do, and he put his very soul into the betterment
of God’s cause. There’s a place over there where those Juniors meet that
no one will ever be able to fill, as Jack did, and our B. Y. P. U. will never be
what it was when he was with us, as we think of him and of the great things
which made him what he was, we are inspired to higher and better things in life.
How I loved Jack! What a boy he was! And I
shall always be a better person for having known him. It is so sad when we
think that he can no more walk the walks of life with us, but oh! how glorious
to know that up there heaven’s lights are brighter because of this presence, and
that Jack is looking down upon us and some sweet day we shall see and know our
Jack.
And now, dear loved ones, may God bless each and every
one of you, and may your lives be as noble and as glorifying to God as was
Jack’s.
A Friend.
Marlin, Texas
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