Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-17
HE LOST HIS LIFE
In a Foolish Attempt to Win a Foolish
Wager.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
A party of Young fellows left Cincinnati
Tuesday morning for Knows lake, near Mid
dletown o. Among them was,Jacob Schatz,
an athletic young fellow, and an excellent
swimmer. A few days before the party left
that city Schstz bet that nc could stay under
water two minutes. They reached the lake.
and gathered together on the runway for ice
that leads up to the ice house. Schatz had on
n light, loose fitting suit OF clothes, and, while
attempting to Chamber onto the PLATFORM so
in change slipped from his pocket. and fell
with an Irritating patter into the water.
Schatz threw Off his clothes, aud u suggestive
splash told the fishermen that they had rs
well seek u more quiet locality. SchAtz went
down twelve times in succession. He would
dive down, and, while Billy Stretz held his
feet, he would rummage about with his hands
in q vain search after the lost coin.
A skif containing William GoOdheart and
George Meehan soon appeared The two
were on their way to the laEe by the canal
One OF them carried a watch No sooner had
Schatz noticed the fact than he turned to
FrOhmeYCr and remarked that here was au
opportunity of settlRk the wager. NOW,
You time me- he continued and initiating his
lungs. sto d for an instant nicely poised on
the edge Of the staging, and then ike n flash
shot hendfOremOst into the water. At the
expiration OF minute he arose pulling to the
surface. lie complained OF feeling a prick
ling sensation between his shoulder blades
NJ
The sensation passed speedily away, and in
few minutes he announced that he was ready
once more. The second time he adopted
measures that wOgld warrant his STAYING un-
derneath the water until he chose to rise. He
swan underneath the staging, and, reaching
up. secured a firm hold Of the cham that eX-
tended between two Of the posts. Before go
ing down he arranged with those above 10
shout at the expiration of each quarter
Then, holding his nose with his left hand,
his right still grGsping the chain, he sank
gradually down until Just the crown OF his
head was visible in the water. The seconds
sped by. ana as the baud approached the limit
of time one Of the boys turned 10 FrOhmeyer
with the remark:
you've lost your bet"
Two minutes passed, and the first quarter
on the third was scored, and still the white
muscular arm retained its rlgidity and the
sun hrOwned hand grasped the chain.
"2;3O," the time keeper announced. and the
watchers grew uneasy. just rs the minute
hand passed ~ the Divers hand appeared
above the suriace. He expelled tbs air from
his lungs, and, before any one coul interfere,
the hand that had grasped the chain fell limp
upon the surface Of the water and The swim
mersank like a stone to the bottom.
in an instant all was excitement. Young
Mauthe called eXcitedlv 10 5tretz, who yvaa
rowing leisurey toward them, 10 hurry IN
with the skin, as Schatz was drowning. Then
ne leaped INTO the water and found the body,
but was unable 90 raise it,
"As soon as felt IL. said he relating the
terrible story, 81 knew il was all up with
Jake, and got so weak the other boys had to
help me OUT STREET reached the spot mo-
ment inter, and grasping the chain let HIM
self down. and twinng his legs about the
body Of his friend, drew 10 10 the surface
Among them they placed it upon the shore,
and that ended a fishing excursion that all
Will remember with "A shuddcr.