Francis Laycock could not swim.
That did not stop his companions from repeatedly throwing the 17-year-old into a gravel pit near Alexandria, Indiana, in the summer of 1922.
As Laycock grew exhausted, he begged them to stop. According to the newspaper report, the other swimmers laughed.
Then he began to struggle.
With roughly 50 bathers nearby, no one came to his aid. Laycock disappeared beneath the water and drowned, leaving county officials to investigate how a day of swimming had ended in a teenager’s death.
Exhausted Youth Left By 50 Bathers To Drown
ALEXANDRIA, Indiana. — County investigation into the drowning of Francis Laylock, 17, who sank as 50 bathers looked on, was expected today.
Laycock, who did not know how to swim, it is reported, was thrown into the Stillwell gravel pit several times by his companions who did know how to swim.
He became exhausted and pleaded with the other swimmers to stop.
They laughed.
When Laycock started to struggle, they became frightened and did not help him. He drowned.
Source: The Indianapolis Times. Indianapolis, Ind. June 26, 1922.
