The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-05-07
TWO PERSONS
Charles and Rebecca vandyck 90 Down 10
| Death together in Lake Aaahpa-
lutah.

vi tutdH.
On Sunday aftern Don, about half
past four O'Clock, word was received in
the city that a man ai,o his wife had
just been drowned in what is common
ly known as Sloan's Lake, situated
about a mile and a half north of town.
The horrible news sped from mouth to
mouth, until within a very short time
almosta all of our citizens hadheard of the
shocking occurrence. An investigation
of the statement proved that 1t was in
deed a sad reality. 1t appears that Mr..
Vandyck, who kept 4 small shoe shop
on Seventeenth street, near the old
Eagle House, started out on Sunday
about noon, with n team which he had
recently purchased, taking along with
him his wife and two men named G. b.
Towne, Il timer, and Isaac lie Fevre,
~(Frenchyl the latter of whom is a sad
dler who occupied a portion of his shop.
After riding awhile over the prairie in
the vicinity of Fort Russell, they re-
paired to Sloan's Lake, alighted and
chartered n OF the small boats for n
sail. The four persons seated them
selves in the boat, taking along with
them Il large Newfoundland dog be-
longing to Mr.. Fandyck. After being
on the water IN hour or more, q stiff
breeze sprang up. ~''Frcnchy'' was
steering the boat, and n sudden gust of
wind capsized it, precipitating the en-
tire party into the Lake, which at that
place was at least twenty feet deep, and
about one hundred and twenty-five
yards from the shore. As soon rs the
boat was turned bottom upwards, the
dog perched himself thereon, and when
Mrs. Vankyck, who had already sank
unce, came up he seized her 10y the
dress, and to all appearances made an
effort to rescue her from the terrible
fate which overlook her. Frenchy,
who is a good swimmer, seeing her per-
II, sliced her by the shoulder and SHOW
ed her to the boat, which she seized,
and which would have saved her life
had it not been that her husband, who
had also gone under once, came up Just
then and grabbed hold of her dress in
his struggles to save himself. Being
freed from the boat, she in turn caught
hold of her husband. and both went
down together. As they arose to the
surface Frenchy seized them again, and
they pulled him under the water. Re
Airing his peril. he succeeded in free
ing himself from their grasp, and they
again sank, but not to rise. Towne
SWIM ashore, and lie Fevre, who could
do no more for the unfortunate couple,
followed him.
1t was nearly two hours before the
bodies of the Vandycks were recovered
which was accomplished by the aid of
graphing irons and hooks, manipulated
by parties who went out in boats and
made the search. There were probably
five hundred people on the shore be-
tween the time of the drowning and the
recovery of the bodies, as n constant
stream of humanity was seen either
coming from or going to the Lake while
the search for the bodies twas in progress.
Both of the drowned were caught up at
once with n hook, towed ashore and ia
ken to their late residence on the cor
ner of 10Th and O'Neil streets. Coro-
ner Goldacker impanneled u jury con-
sisting of j. II. Chanln, Tim. Decay,
Jas. Julian, A. J. Crookham, Frank
Miller and J.. W. Murray, who examin-
ed the bodies and found $40 on Mrs.
Vandyck's person. The jury then adj
journed until Monday morning at .
O'Clock. But little was transacted.
Another session was held during the
afternoon and the jury rendered u YER
dict Of death by accidental drowning"
Vandyck was a Canadian Frenchman
and came to Cheyenne about n year ago
from Golden, Colorado, where he was
married a couple of years ago to the
unfortunate woman, whose maiden
name vas Nixon. Her father, mother,
brothers and sisters still reside there.
Last week her mother was here paying
her a visit and went down home on
Saturday afternoons train unconscious
that on the following day the daughter
would meet with such II cruel fate. 1t
was the intention of Nandyck and wife
to start for Deadwood to-day and they
had all their household goods packed
ready to make the journey. On Mon
day afternoon T. p. Nixon and Sol.
Nixon, father and brother to Mrs. Van
dyck came up from Golden in response
to n telegram announcing the occur
renee. They were accompanied by Mr..
j. A. Scott, of Golden, who is n rela-
tive of the family. Deceased leave no
children. Their funeral will take place
this forenoon at 10 O'Clock from the
Catholic church, Rev. Father J. Il.
Lee officiating.
G. Hoffman, formerly of this city,
who was killed at Deadwood was fired
at twice. The first bullet fired by Dur
ham missed the deceased and passed
out through the front window. The
second one took effect in the left breast