Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon
Willard, the 18 year old son of Thos. Akin of Enterprise, was drowned at Ray’s ferry while returning home from helping to cross cattle over the Grande Ronde river.
Sam McAllister, who would have forded the river with him had he not stopped to talk with a man, a few minutes later saw the horse riderless in the stream and the boy in the river about 200 yards below.
Before McAllister could rescue him the lad sank out of sight and at last accounts the body was not recovered. His father and uncle H.D. Akin went at once to search for it.
Cove Ledger
Thursday December 14, 1899