This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: iidabelle Surnames: Lee, Rowson, , Cowley, Holsinger, Klingman, Wilson Classification: death Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.lee/11874/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I'm posting this in case someone may need it. I do not know the family and have no other information on this family. Portsmouth Times, Portsmouth, Ohio Monday, July 19, 1948, Front page Two Fathers, Two Boys Drowning Victims 3 Lose Lives In Ohio River 'Shine' Lee, Dent Rowson In Tragedy; Pike Youngster Dies in Creek Two men and two boys were drowning victims in the Ohio River and Owl Creek, Pike Co. over the weekend. Caught in the swift water of Ohio River, two fathers gave their lives Sunday about 8:20 p.m. in a valiant effort to save the life to save the life of the son of one, who toppled from, a boat at Franklin Furnace. Drowned were: Harold Shriver (Shine) Lee, 43, of Wheelersburg, widely known musician, John Harold Lee, 4, his only child, John Dent Rowson, 35, of 2102 18th St., father of three children, an instructor in the Portsmouth High school vocational school. Hank Holsinger, 11, son of Dewey and Lorraine Cowley Holsinger of northeast of Lucasville in Pike co. The boy lost his life about 7:15 p.m. Sunday and the body was recovered a short time later. Lee Body Recovered Mr. Lee's body was recovered about 8 a.m. today and the search is being continued for the other bodies. Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Rowson, sisters made vain attempts to rescue the trio who had disappeared before the wives could reach the scene. They were in the Lee camp about 150 yards from the drowning scene when attracted by calls for aid. Both women dashed to the river and waded out in a futile attempt to locate the bodies. Mrs. Fred Klingman of Wheelersburg, sister of Mr. Lee and Mrs. George Raines, 1808 High St., sister of Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Rowson, fainted at the scene. Chief Deputy Sheriff Burl Justice, Assistant Fire Chief Oscar Moore and State Highway Patrolman R. M. Smith organized a search party that dragged the river all night for the bodies. Boy in Rescue Act Richard Burdette, 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Burdette, 1548 12th St. was credited with saving himself and two Rowson children, John 8, and Sue 3, who were marooned in the boat after the tragedy. The youth retrieved (Turn to VICTIM, Page 2) Portsmouth Times, Portsmouth, Ohio Monday, July 19, 1948, Page 2 VICTIMS (Continued From Page 1) the boat's only oar which was lost in the mishap and paddled boat to shore. It was his first experience in handling a boat. Carl Miller of Franklin Furnace, employee of Vulcan Corp. and expert swimmer was about the first man to reach the scene and dived and dragged in vain for the bodies. Roy Martin of Sciotoville, deputy county treasurer, and Cline Gilpin , Sciotoville dairyman, who were at the nearby Dr. S. E. Moorhead camp, were among the first on the scene and assisted in rescue attempts. J. B. Lee of Wheelersburg, veteran employee of the traffic department of Portsmouth Steel Corp, and father of Mr. Lee suffered a sun stroke July 4 and was feeling ill and went home about 7 p.m. County Engineer and Mrs. O. Carson Barklow and Mr. and Mrs. Donald T. Blake, 1652 Grant St., who occupy camp's adjacent to the Lee camp had returned home before the tragedy and went back to the camps and assisted with rescue efforts. Mrs. Barklow, a registered nurse, attended the women. Boy Eye Witness According to Richard Burdette, John Harold Lee fell from the boat and Mr. Rowson leaped from the boat recovered the lad. Mr. Lee, who was on the bank waded and swam out to the scene, took his son from Mr. Rowson and started to swim back to shore and suddenly the father and son submerged. Mr. Rowson, who was treading water, called to Richard Burdette to recover the last oar and take the boat to shore. A few seconds later he too submerged. The drownings occurred on Ohio side of the river, about a quarter of a mile west of Dam 30. Ohio river was rising and the dam wickets were lowered causing a strong currents in front of the camp site. After supper Mr. Lee started to prepare his speed boat for the night. He was tacking down the boat and preparing to put on the canvas cover. The children wanted to take a boat ride and Mr. Rowson put the four children in his metal boat, powered by an outboard motor and started to take them a short ride. Warning Given "Don't go out too far," Mr. Lee called, "if anything should happen you could not handle the children." "We were about 100 feet out and about 100 yards west of Mr. Lee's boat," Richard Burdette said, "when the motor stopped. "Mr. Rowson said, "sit tight kids and I will row you to shore". "Johnnie Lee stood up in the boat just as Mr. Rowson leaned forward to pick up the boat oar. The boat shifted suddenly and Johnnie fell out the boat, Mr. Rowson called to Mr. Lee and jumped overboard and grabbed Johnnie. He had Johnnie up on his shoulders and started toward shore. The boat was drifting downstream. "Mr. Lee dashed down the shore line, kicked off his boots and plunged into the river. He ran part way and swarm out to Mr. Rowson. Mr. Lee took Johnnie and started back toward shore. He had taken about eight strokes when they suddenly submerged. It seemed like they struck quicksand, they went down so suddenly and fast. It seemed like something pulled them under. "Mr. Ro! wson was treading water. He called to me to get the oar, which dropped into the river when he jumped overboard, and row the boat to shore. I reached out and got the oar. The boat had drifted with the current some distance below Mr. Rowson. I saw him go down and come up. I paddled to shore and when I reached the bank I saw Mr. Rowson floating downstream." Tragedy Just Before Dark The tragedy occurred just before dark. Immediately before the accident, Mr. Lee called to Mrs. Lee to turn on the electric lights in the camp and yard. Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Rowson were in the camp when they heard the frantic calls and ran to the river. By the time they got to the water the trio had disappeared. Both women waded out in futile efforts to locate the bodies. Several minutes later the alarm was spread. A boy ran to the Miller home, about a half mile away. Mr. Miller telephoned the fire department rescue squad and ran to the river. A hardy swimmer, Mr. Miller stripped off and dived for the bodies and then combed the area with a rake. Chief Moore responded with a fire boat and dragging equipment and three firemen, William Jett, Donald Coburn and Albert Cunningham. James Richards and Ray Akers of Sciotoville, volunteer firemen, went to the scene and assisted. 15 Youths Volunteer Deputy Sheriffs Justice, Ray Leach, Sam Simon and Emory Frye responded and helped man the boats. The strong current tired the oarsmen and Deputy Justice called for volunteers and 15 youths from Franklin Furnace community responded and helped row during the night. Tragedy has followed the family. Fred Klingman's father was killed when struck by a truck. Mrs. Raines' husband was engineer on the ill-fated Powhatan Arrow, which wrecked a few months ago at Franklin Furnace, about a mile from the drowning scene. He was hurt seriously. Death this summer removed both teachers of the machine shop department of P.H.S. trade and vocational school. Mr. Rowson and Owen Burkhardt were employed as the instructors when the school opened in 1942. Mr. Burkhardt died about six weeks ago from a heart attack. Mr. Lee is a former resident of Hutchins at Portsmouth and attended Grant and Highland schools. He completed his high school at Wheelersburg, when the family moved to the communit! y. For several years he played in local bands and conducted his own orchestra. He played the piano and trumpet. Mr. Lee was employed many years in Phil Wolff's clothing store and in 1942 went to Sandusky, where he worked during the war as a chemist. The family returned here in March and located in Wheelersburg. About two weeks ago Mr. Lee bought a speed boat. He spent the weekend working on the boat, installing new glass windshield and renovating the craft. Mr. Rowson had a metal boat which he kept at the Lee camp. The Lee's were staying at the camp and the Rowsons went to the camp Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon Mr. Rowson inquired if Mr. Blake would sell his camp, saying he would like to have the camp for his family. Mr. Rowson formerly was employed in the machine shop of Portsmouth works, Wheeling Steel Corp., 10 years before taking the high school instructor post. Mr. Lee was born in Columbus, March 1, 1905. The family located in Portsmouth a few years late! r and then moved to Wheelersburg. His mother died about 15 years ago. Wed 8 Years Ago Mr. Lee married Carolyn Wilson eight years ago. Their only child was born Jan. 29, 1944. He is survived by his wife, his father, J. B. Lee and a sister Mrs. Fred Klingman of Wheelersburg. Mr. Lee attended Ohio State and Ohio Northern universities. He was a pharmacist but never practiced the profession. Mr. Rowson was born March 31, 1913, at Streator, Ill. He moved to Portsmouth in 1919 and here married the former Miss Lillian Wilson. Beside his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Rowson, 2914 Cedar St., Mr. Rowson is survived by three children, Caroline Ann 15, John 8 and Sue Ellen 3. Mr. Rowson is also survived by a sister, Miss Margaret Rowson, who is superintendent of Portsmouth General hospital. 5 Children In Pike Party The Holsinger boy was in a party of five children and one adult had been playing in the shallow water, about three feet deep when the others in the group missed the Holsinger boy and a search was started. The body was found on the creek bottom by Robert Pelfrey, 14. Pelfrey also lives on Lucasville Rt. 3. Others on the party included James Shroats, Billy Pelfrey, Bobby Bevens and Franklin and Cordell Taylor. Hank, a fourth grade pupil at Union Township grade school in Pike Co., was born June 21, 1937 in Sciotoville. His family has lived in Pike Co. west of Stockdale for about two years. Surviving are the parents and these brothers and sisters at home, Ralph, George, Jesse, David, Richard, Jean and Shirley. The grandparents are John Cowley of Sciotoville and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Holsinger of New Boston. The body will be taken to the residence Tuesday morning and funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Lucasville Rt. 3 church with Rev. Frank Jose in charg! e. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery under direction of Sowards Funeral Home. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.