The Monongahela river claimed its first victim of this season in the district Monday afternoon;June 3;1936;when a Pricedale boy;swimming with four companions near Belle Vernon;was drowned when he jumped from a raft into water over his depth. Frank Bartus;11;went swimming behind some bushes on the river bank between the railroad station and Second street in Belle Vernon Monday afternoon. With him were Andy Beregi;10;John Long;8 and Sidney Long;5. Frank and Andy mounted a small raft and shoved out from the shore. The latter;who can swim a little;jumped off when the raft reached water over his depth and started for the bank. A few seconds later;Frank jumped into the water. Unable to swim;he began to flounder. Andy quickly reached the struggling boy’s side but could not cope with his flailing arms and legs;and Frank went down. Andy;quickly donning his trousers;ran for the police;and Charles Johnson;a substitute officer;answered the call together with several fireman and volunteers. A crowd of over 800 was attracted to the river bank and quite a number of persons assisted in the search. They immediately began to drag the river bottom with grappling hooks from two boats;but their efforts were without avail until after 5 o’clock when the body was discovered close to the bank. Frank had gone down about 3:30. It was useless to attempt resuscitation and the body was immediatly removed to the Melenyzer funeral parlor to be prepared for burial. Frank less than a year ago was discharged from a hospital where he had spent nearly two years recovering from injuries received when he was struck by an automobile. A fractured leg nearly crippled him. He was a pupil in the fifth grade of the Rostraver Township school. He is survived by his parents;Mr.and Mrs.Joseph Bartus;three brothers;Albert;Steve and John and a sister;Mary. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10 o’clock;from St.Sebastian Church. Interment in Belle Vernon Cemetery.