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Columbus Grove, Ohio
Thursday, April 2, 1914

Plum Creek Failed to Give up Body of

Harold Fruchey, 10, who Fell in the Water Last Saturday
Afternoon and was Drowned

Parents Grief Stricken and Every Effort Thus Far Has
Been Unsuccessful to Relieve Their Conditions -- Men
Have Searched Night and Day for the Body.

Since last Saturday afternoon about four o'clock when
the little body of Howard Fruchey, ten years old, eldest
and only son of Mr. and Mrs. Homer __ Fruchey, was last
seen going down the swollen stream of Plum Creek,
hundreds of men have worked night and day searching for
this little body of the unfortunate boy but thus far
every effort has failed. Business has almost been at a
stand-still, men giving their time and money in hopes
that the body might be found. Farmers have responded
freely for miles around. Ottawa has offered and rendered
every service possible, and it does look as though the
water would yield to the searchers and the wishes of
everybody soon.

Plum Creek is termed here as a big ditch, but Saturday
it seemed to be wild and every effort to head the body
off as he went down stream, after the alarm was given
proved as useless as the search has been.

The Fruchey's live right along the creek bank and Harold
and the Staumbaugh boy, about Harold's age, were along
the creek bank back of the __eidlebaugh residence,
playing with a __et ball. The bank at the point was six
or eight feet to the water, when he came too close to
the edge and the ___ ating gave way and he fell head
first into the swift current clinging to the foot ball.
His mother who was standing at the barn at the rear of
her home ran to the boy's rescue but before she could
get him he was out of sight. Just within a short tim
after the alarm had been given, and creek was lined with
people and every since men have worked unceasingly day
and night. Every suggestion has been tried, every nook
and crook has been searched from the place he went in at
to Kalida. The rains have kept the water much higher
than usual, but dams have been built, dynamite has been
used, until now it seems impossible for the little
fellow to be in this creek, but the search will continue
and every effort made to bring the body from its watery
grave and give it to the grief stricken parents who are
so anxiously waiting.

------------------

$100,000 Reward!

Offered to the party or parties delivering to the family
the body of Harold Fruchey, who was drowned in Plum
Creek, at Columbus Grove, Ohio, Saturday, March 28,
1914.

Signed, Putnam County Commissioners.

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