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- Evening News of the Tonawandas, July 13, 1896
Drowned..in the Niagara River at LaSalle
No Person Saw it....
It is thought that Benjamin Proefrock was adjusting the sail on the boat When he met his fate.
He lived in North Tonawanda
A sad case of drowning ocurred near LaSalle on Saturday afternoon. Christian Proefrock worked on a farm near LaSalle. He left his work about 4 o'clock and went to the river where he had a sail boat fastened to a stake. He got into the boat and from the appearance of things, he was arranging a sail when the boat tipped over and the lad fell into the water and was drowned. No person saw the accident nor was it discovered until about 6 o'clock, but it is thought he turned the boat over while adjusting a sail, for the boat was still tied to a stake when the drowning was discovered. The body was found in about four feet of water near the boat.
It is thoght the lad may have struck his head upon a rock and was rendered unconcious, or he may have been taken with cramps.
The drowned boy was but 16 years old and his home was near Ely car barns in North Tonawanda, to which the body was taken.
The funeral ocurred at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The body was taken to St John's for burial.
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