VIOLETTA, Joseph

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ May 17 1945, p. 1 Aguila Youth Is Drowned in Ranch’s Tank Joseph Violetta 13, is Swimming Victim; His Companion Is Saved AGUILA, May 17 – Tragedy visited the George Violetta home here last Friday evening when their 13-year-old son, Joseph, drowned in a cattle tank on the Taylor Ranch, 10 miles south of town. The lad, with his friend, Kenneth Swink, had gone to the ranch with their teacher, Mrs. Archie Farris, to milk the cows, and afterwards decided to take a swim in the galvanized iron tank, which is about 10 feet in circumference, 12 feet in depth and partly buried in the ground. The boys apparently misjudged the depth of the water in the tank, which was well over their heads. Mrs. Farris, at the ranch house some 200 years away, heard their cries for help and rushed to the tank. Young Joseph had sunk to the bottom while Kenneth was floundering on the surface, but almost at the point of exhaustion. Through superhuman efforts, Mrs. Farris was able to grasp Kenneth’s hands and pull him out. She hurried to Aguila for help and the body of Joseph was taken from the tank but all efforts at artificial resuscitation failed. Joseph was in his last year, at the Aguila school. His only brother George Jr., is a student in the Wickenburg High School. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Mission Church in Aguila, conducted by Rev. William Barclay of the First Baptist Church, Wickenburg, and burial took place in the Aguila cemetery.