Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-15
He Lost His Life in a Foolish AttemDt
to Win u Foolish Wager.


party of young fellows left Cincinnati Tues
day morning tor Knows Lake, near Middle
town, Ohio. Among them was Jacob Schatz.
AN athletic young fellow, and an excellent swim
mer few days before the party left that city
Schatz bet that he 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 a light, loose-tit-
ting suit of clothes, and; while attempting to
slipped from his pocket, and fell with an rrl-
tating patter into the water. Schatz threw off
his clothes. and a suggestive splash told the
fishermen that they had as well seek 1; more
quiet locality. Schatz went down twelve times
in succession. He would dive down. and while
Billy Stretz held his feet. he would runlmage
ABOUT with his hands In u vain search after the
lost coin.
a skitf containing William Gnodheart and
on their way to the lake by the canal. one OF
them carried IL watch. No sooner had Schatz
noticed the fact than he turned to Ffohmcycr
settling their wager. "Now, you time me-" he
concluded, and, Initiating his lungs, stood for an
instant nicely poised on the edge of the stag
ing, and then like flash shot hcadforemost
into the water. At the expiration oil a minute
he arose putting to the surface He complained OF
sGsnG phT aGal rens''i"n between his
speedily away. and in a few minutes
he announced that he was ready once more
would warrant his remaining untierneath the
water until he chose to rise. He swan under.
meath the staging, and, reaching up. secured IL
hrin hold OF u chain that extended between two
OF the posts. Before going down he arranged
with those above to s4out at the expiration of
each quarter. Then, holding his nose with his
left hand. his right still gr,sping tue c.luin he
sank gradually down until just the crown of his
head WAS visible In the water The second,
sped by, and AS the hand approached the limit
OF time one OF the boys turned to Frohlucycr
with the reninrk:
You We lost your bet"
Two minutes passed, and the first quarter on
the third was scored, and still the white mus
GUAR arm retained its rigidity and the sun
Drowned hand grasped the chain.
2:3O, the time-kceper announced, anu the
Watchers grew uneasy. Just as the minute
hand passed 23A the divers head appeared
above the surface. Heexpelled the air from his
lungs. and. before any one could interfere, the
hand that had graspeG the chain fell limp upon
the surface OF the wafer, and the swimmer sank
like II stone TO the bottom.
III an instant all was excitement Young
MautlIc called eXcitcdly to Street, who was
rowing leisurely toward them, TO hurry in with
tue skiH as Schatz was drowning. Then he
leaped INTO the water and found the body, but
was unable to raise II.
LAS soon rs felt it," said he relating the ter
rible story, ." knew II was all UP with Jake, and
1 got SO weak the other boys had 10 help me
out" Stretz reached the spot q moment later,
and, graspfng the chain, let himself down. and
twining his legs about the body of his friend,
drew 1t to the surface. Among them they
placed it upon the shore, and that ended fish
Ing excursion that all will remember with o
shudder