Drowned in the Kettle River

From the Pine County Pioneer, August 5, 1887: 

The inhabitants of our village [Hinckley] were horrified last Sunday evening by the report that Carl, eldest son of H.H. Scott, had been drowned in the Kettle River that afternoon while bathing. The particulars as far as can be learned are as follows: In the morning a party from the village hired Mr. Scott's team to take them out in the country to spend the day picnicking in the woods and Carl accompanied the party in the capacity of teamster. Arriving at Kettle River the male portion of the party indulged in a bath, while Carl was engaged in looking after his team. Finishing his task, he also repaired to the river and in company with a boy of about his age, went into the water. Carl could not swim but was endeavoring to learn, using for that purpose a raft, which he would take hold of and letting go paddle up to it again. The raft floated into deep water, when by a sudden motion of the current, it was bourn away and Carl was left in the water. Being unable to swim, he was drowned before assistance could reach him. Immediate search was made for the body, which was soon recovered and returned to the home which he had but a few hours before left so full of buoyant hopes. No news of the sad calamity had preceded them and the sorrow, when the lifeless body of a dearly beloved son and brother was returned can neither be imagined nor described. 

Carl was at the time of his death thirteen years, seven months and twenty-seven days old. He was a bright, smart, active boy, always gentlemanly, and we do not fear contradiction when we say that he was one of the most promising boys in Hinckley. Even at this young age he had developed a wonderful mechanical genius and books and papers were his constant companions. Thus has a promising young life been cut off 'ere it had hardly reached its sphere of usefulness. 

The body was taken to Pine City Tuesday morning for interment in the Union Cemetery. A large number of friends and teams joining the sad company at that place and assisting in the obsequies. 

[Note: Carl's mother was Dr. Mary Scott, who practiced medicine in Hinckley. His father, H.H. Scott, was a prominent citizen. The family owned a store in Hinckley.]