Freeman Sammons, 41-year-old Tracy, Minnesota man, working on a bridge job near Jackson, Minn., fell into the flood-stage, raging Des Moines river and drowned late Tuesday afternoon, 06 Apr 1965.

The tragic mishap occurred on a bridge site near Petersburg, Minn., near the Iowa line and about seven miles southeast of Jackson. Time of the drowning was about 4:30 PM.

It was reported, that when a wrench slipped, he fell backward into the river. Olando Blegen of Arco was working with Sammons, on the bridge at the time, and Foreman Bob Wendland of Balaton observed the accident from shore.

Sammons, reportedly a good swimmer, made a desperate but futile attempt to survive, but couldn't cope with the swirling waters choked with chunks of ice -and disappeared from sight around a bend in the river.

A rescue team attempted dragging operations to recover the body but because of the swiftness of the current and floating chunks of ice, had to abandon their efforts that day.

Search attempts were again resumed Wednesday.

Born Sept. 11, 1923, one of 14 children, he was 41 years of age. He was an employee of the Thorson Construction Co. since March 1958. His family resides here.

He is survived by his wife, two children and seven step-children, besides 10 brothers and sisters.

After the accident, officials of Jackson county and search parties downriver at Estherville, Ia., and other individuals of Jackson and Tracy, intermittently, had dragged and searched for his body.

Finally his body was found one mile downstream from the bridge site about 10: 15 a.m., Saturday July 10, 1965 by Deputy Sheriff Gerald Benjamin of Jackson County and Game Warden Gerald Kinny. It was caught by a log in debris toward the side of the main river channel in about six feet of water.

After observing, some part of Freeman's coverall, they then discovered the body. The man's billfold further identified the body.

Freman L Simmons