Dennis Williams
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - July 25, 1957
Eagle River Claims Lives of Three Minturn Boys
Stark tragedy stalked the Eagle River near Minturn Sunday noon, when three boys lost their lives in its waters.
Dennis WIlliams and Jon and Glenn Long died in the Eagle between 12:30 and 1 o'clock as they attempted to ford the river to get to a small island in the middle of the roilly waters. The tragedy occurred near the home of the Long brothers, east of Minturn. Their mother, Mrs. James Scholl, was unaware of the accident, until persons in a crowd gathering near the house told her that Dennis's body had been taken from the river.
The three boys, following a normal boyish pursuit of adventure, had joined hands to cross rocks in the river, headed for the island. One of the boys, which one will never be known, was either caught by a strong current, or slipped and all three went into the water.
Dennis, 12 year old son of Mrs. and Mrs. Ernst Williams was discovered in brush near the highway-side of the river, within five minutes after the boys entered the water. It is believed he died from a blow on the head when he fell, rather than by drowing. He was discovered by Duane Alber, Ralphie Starr and Paul Phillips, driving along the highway. Allber, driver, stopped and his two companions pulled Dennis from the river, starting artificial respiration unsuccessfully.
WIllie Sanchez, owner of the Country Club nearby, saw the trio slip into the water, and telephoned the Minturn Fire Department. Jon, 10 years old, was found 100 yards downstream by Joe Romero and his 12-year old brother, Glenn, was sighted a mile and a half down the river at Minturn, across the river from the Emil Erlandson home. The body could only be reached from the railroad. Mr. Erlandson called the railroad depot and a track car was dispatched to the scene. Howard Moore pulled the boy's body from the water.
Marguerite Knott, county public school nurse, and members of the Minturn Fire Department and others tried in vain to revive the boys.
Dennis is survived by his parents and two brothers Larry, 10 and Mike, 6. Rosary was said in Leadville Wednesday night for the young Minturn lad and Father Joseph Leberer said Requiem Mass today at St. Patrick's Church in Minturn. Burial was in Glenwood Springs.
John and Glenn attended school in Eagle last term, moving to Minturn with their step-father and their mother, Mr. and Mrs. James Shroll, to be near Mr. Scholl's work at the Gilman mine. Their bodies were sent from Bowman Mortuary in Eagle today to Osceola, Neb. for burial by the side of their father, Brown M. Long.
