Summerville, Union County, Oregon
Near Summerville, April 26, 1890, Eddie Rinehart, son of Jasper Rinehart, aged 16 years, 6 months and 25 days.
The deceased came to his death by drowning in the Grande Ronde river. He had driven some horses across the large ditch which empties into the river on the Bloch place. He was riding a horse and as the animal sprang in to cross the ditch they became separated, the horse swimming back to the shore while Eddie managed to gain the farther bank. he was then left without means of escape as he was then on an island, formed by the ditch and the river.
He attracted the attention of some passers by who paid no heed to his crys. At last another young man saw him and went up the river some distance and came down in an old boat in which they started across the river, while thus engaged the boat began to leak and fill with water. It seems the young man became excited and in his attempt to spring towards the shore he upset the boat, throwing them both in the water. The man who had come to the rescue was able to gain the shore but Eddie Rinehart went down beneath the cold waves never to return the bright promising youth he had been. He sank at 7 o’clock Saturday and the body was not recoveread until 8:15 Sunday morning.
The funeral took place at one p.m. Monday. The heart stricken parents have the sympathy of the whole community.
Eastern Oregon Republican, Thursday
May 1, 1890