Insane Folk Rescue Four From Drowning

Insane Folk Rescue Four From Drowning

1916

Dive Into River Near Illinois Hospital and Save Women

Kankakee, Ill., July 29. — The heroism of three male patients of the state insane hospital and an attendant saved four women from drowning in the Kankakee river near the hospital yesterday, Miss Rose Homolka of Braidwood, a nurse at the hospital, was drowned before help could reach her. The other women were taken out of the river unconscious. Miss Homolka's body was not located for thirty-five minutes after she sank and all efforts to revive her were futile.

Five young women attendants at the institution had gone to the river to bathe. The girls who made up the party were Miss Homolka, Marie Wesley, Elia Clanahan, Nettie Sima, and Cuma McMorris. Miss Homolka, who was the only one of the part who could swim, was teaching the others. She had assisted one of the women to a considerable distance from the shore when suddenly she stepped into deep water. Both Miss Homolka and the young woman with her became excited and floundered about calling for help. Two of the party who were near the bank in shallow water bravely went to their rescue and in the excitement all got beyond their depth and, not being able to swim, floundered about helplessly, crying for aid.

Attendant Bert White and two male patients, who were assisting him with some work at the icehouse, ran at once to the spot, where they were joined by O'Donnell, another patient. All four of the men went to the rescue, but had great difficulty getting the women ashore, three of the women being unconscious when landed.

—The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 29, 1916, page 2.