Martin Blackford, 59, Bethel Twp, lowland farmer, became the first
victim of the Wabash river overflow Sunday afternoon when he
died after his motor boat had crashed into the piling on the Illinois Central bridge between Barrett's Switch and Griffin. He was rescued from the water
after 45 minutes exposure during which time he had held onto a tree limb, but
died while resuscitation efforts were in progress. Blackford was going to
his home to check on the flood conditions there.
(Buried in Maumee
Cemetery,
Johnson, Gibson,
Indiana,
USA)
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Originally submitted by Betty Sellers