Max W. Katz died 1900

KATZ, STAPLES, LINDSAY, BOOTHBY, SCHNEIDER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/11/2016 at 16:54:06

Dubuque Herald, August 4, 1900

PROMISING BOY DROWNED
~
Max W. Katz Met Death in the
Mississippi Friday
Afternoon
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HE TOOK CRAMPS WHILE IN THE WATER
~
Body Recovered Soon After the
Drowning – President of High
School Graduating
Class
~
Dubuque was robbed of a promising son by the unmerciful waters of the Mississippi at 4 o’clock Friday afternoon. At this hour Max W. Katz, the 18 year old son of Mrs. and Mrs. Carl Katz, was drowned near the southern end of an island half a mile above the high bridge. The body was found an hour and a half later by some clam diggers midway between the bridge and the point where the young man was drowned.

Early in the afternoon young Katz and a companion, Harry Schneider, left their homes to go fishing and bathing at a point on the island where they had often enjoyed the sport before. When they arrived on the island they anchored their skiff, donned bathing suits and then began to asset some trot lines. It was putting out the lines that young Katz went to a watery grave. He was standing in shallow water near the shore, holding one end of the line while young Schneider held the other. The latter’s attention was drawn to Katz by seeing him throw his hands in the air and gesticulate frantically. In another moment Katz sank out of sight in the water and rose no more. Young Schneider notified some clam diggers that were working in that vicinity and a search for the body was begun. News of the drowning spread fast and a score of skiffs and half as many launches were soon on the scene. The body was brought up at 5:45 o’clock. The corner impaneled a jury that viewed the body after which it was removed to the Katz home, opposite the Great Western depot. The general verdict is that the body was taken with cramps and was unable to move his limbs or cry for help.

The untimely death of Max Katz has spread a pall of grief over the city. He was one of the most promising popular and best known youths ever reared in Dubuque. Less than two months ago he graduated from High School and was honored by being made president of the class. In schools he was already at the head and on several occasions made public addresses that met with merited recognition. He was naturally studious and for two years had, during vacation and after school hours, studied medicine in the office of Drs. Staples, Boothby, and Lindsay. Next fall he was to have entered Ann Arbor College to take of the study of his chosen profession with vim and earnestness.

The grief stricken parents and relatives have the sympathy of all.