Dubuque-Fayette County IA Archives Obituaries.....Ruston, John Albert August 1, 1901
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Jenepher Homer jenepherhlynn@aol.com June 1, 2005, 8:47 pm

Unknown Dubuque Newspaper
Parents Saw Son Drown

John Ruston, a Promising Young Man, Meets a Tragic Death

Was Drowned Near Showandasse

Accident Occurred at 4 O'clock Thursday Afternoon - Sad Ending of a Pleasant 
Outing

	Before the eyes of a horror stricken party, including his parents, John 
A. Ruston, aged 21 years, and the son of Rev. W. O. Ruston, D. D., pastor of 
the First Presbyterian Church, was drowned in the Mississippi River near 
Showandasse, at 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon. Of the long list of drownings 
that have occurred in this vicinity in years past it is doubtful if ever before 
have the circumstances been as sad as in the death of young Ruston. The very 
manner of which the young man met his death is the basis for a pathetic story, 
but when it is considered that John Ruston was one of the most promising young 
men in Dubuque and the only child of devoted parents, the news of his drowning 
touches a sympathetic cord in the hearts of every resident of the city. The 
drowning of young Ruston was the culmination of a merry party which went down 
the river Thursday morning for an outing. None of the party were more buoyant 
or full of hope and promise than the young man whose lifeless body was brought 
to the city last night. 
	The facts of the drowning as learned from several who were present are 
substantially as follows: Mr. and Mrs. George Salot own a cottage on Green's 
(?) which is opposite Showandasse. A party composed mostly of the Ladies' Aid 
Society of the First Presbyterian Church went down to the cottage Thursday to 
spend the day. Late in the afternoon some of the party went in bathing but only 
three, Howard Salot, John Ruston and Harry Shaw, ventured into the deep water. 
Salot and Shaw are good swimmers and Ruston could swim but little. The cottage 
is situated on the East side of the island facing the channel but as the river 
is now low there is a sand bar between the island and the channel. The sand bar 
is directly opposite the island, about twenty-five feet from the shore, and it 
was in the strip of water between the island and the bar that young Ruston was 
drowned. The three young men had been in the water about twenty minutes and had 
gone over to the sand bar. The bank of the bar near one place is steep and the 
water at this point is quite deep. Shaw and Salot were sitting on the bank when 
Ruston started to wade out towards the deep place. Salot cautioned him not to 
go too far out and Shaw swam out and let himself down to show Ruston how deep 
it was. When Ruston saw his companion disappear beneath the surface he remarked 
that the water was pretty deep and the words were his last. Then Shaw came up 
and swam to where Ruston was standing in the water up to his shoulders. Just 
then Ruston struck out as if he was swimming and Salot called to Shaw to bring 
Ruston to the bank. Shaw started out and just as he reached Ruston the latter 
plunged and grasped him, pulling him under. Realizing that Ruston had gone 
beyond his depth and was sinking, Salot swam out and attempted to assist Shaw 
in getting Ruston to shore. The three had nearly reached the bank and hope was 
beginning to supplant fear among those on the shore when young Ruston struggled 
again and sank into the water, dragging his companions with him.  The three 
came to the surface in an instant but they had swallowed so much water that 
they were nearly exhausted. Again his companions tried to get Ruston to shore, 
and again all three went beneath the surface of the water. When they came up 
Salot shouted for a skiff, but realizing that a skiff could not be pushed out 
in time he grabbed a large minnow box and pushed it out in the hope that Ruston 
might grasp it, but the young man was so weak that he could but make a weak 
effort to save himself and sank for the third time. 
	The death struggle was witnessed by the parents of the young man and a 
party of ladies and children and their feelings could better be imagined than 
described. 
	When Ruston went down for the last time his companions persisted in 
their efforts to rescue him. Diving was tried but the water was too deep. A 
long pole was secured and efforts were made to locate the body with this but it 
proved fruitless. Finally drag hooks were secured and not until after nearly 
two hours' search was the body recovered. This was about 6 o'clock and from 
then until about 7:30 the body was worked over in an attempt to resuscitate it 
but without avail. 
	Coroner Bennett went down to the scene of the drowning and brought the 
body to this city in a boat.

Obituary

	John Albert Ruston was born in West Union, Iowa, April 6, 1879. He was 
brought by his parents to this city when a small child and lived here ever 
since, save the last three years he was away at college.
	He received his preliminary education in the grammar schools of this 
city and prepared for college at the high school. He was graduated from the 
ancient classical course in June, 1898. In the fall of that year he entered 
Lennox College at Hopkinton, Iowa, and from that institution received his 
bachelor's degree last June. He thus completed the four years work in three. 
This is all the more praiseworthy because Lenox College does not offer 
instruction in the summer months. This fall, he planned to begin four years 
work at the School of Mines of Columbia University. So, he would have had the 
distinct advantages of college and university life. At school and at college he 
was greatly beloved. At both his work was characterized by efficiency and 
thoroughness. No report ever came home from college with a grade of less then 
ninety-six. His professors and student friends were very loath to have him 
leave. 
	His character was remarkable. Not less pronounced then his virtues, was 
his kindliness and courtesy. His goodness was never questioned, nor did it ever 
provoke a suspicion or a sneer from the cynical. Modest and unobtrusive, he 
underestimated his own powers. He came very near the ideal of a Christian, a 
scholar and a gentleman.


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