Albert Meyer drowned 1888

MEYER

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 3/2/2011 at 14:15:29

—It becomes our painful duty to
chronicle one of the saddest accidents
ever occurring in our community. On
Sunday last, while in bathing in company
with several companions, Albert
Meyer was accidentally drowned. Just
how it happened ,is not known, as he
was a good swimmer. The water in
which they were bathing was about
four rods wide and perhaps ten feet
deep in the deepest place. He had
swum across the pond several times,
and would dive under the water, so
that no alarm was felt when he was
observed to go under for the last time.
But presently he was seen to throw
his hands out of the water like a drowning
person, when his brother and
others hastened to the rescue. Two
of them succeeded in getting hold of
him but were unable to retain their
hold. He slipped from their grasp
and went down for the last time: As
none who were there could dive, a boat
and hook had to be procured by which
the body was recovered. It is believed
he was taken with a cramp while
under the water, and could neither
help himself nor call for assistance.
Sorrowfully he was conveyed home to
the horrified and grief stricken family.
He had attended church in the morning,
and then with his brother, and
other boys of the neighborhood went
to bathe. But, alas! he who in the
morning had started out full of young
and vigorous life, in the best of spirits
with the prospects of a long life before
urn; the idol of his friends and pride
of his mother's heart, was returned to
his home a lifeless corpse. He was
15 years 4 months and 15 days old.
The funeral services were held in
he Lutheran church, Tuesday, at
1:30 a. m., conducted by Rev.
Warnke, and the remains laid
at rest in the Oelwein cemetery.
The deepest sympathy is felt for
he relatives of the deceased in
his sudden and overwhelming sorrow,
and the commiseration felt for the
bereaved was manifest in the very
large attendance at the funeral, the
procession being a half mile in length.

Oelwein Register - 27 July 1888
Note: Burial Oakdale cemetery