Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-09-25
FO0LHARDY FREAK.
An Unfortunate Wager-Going to
His Death.
Jacob Sohatz Holds Himself Under the
Water Two and Three-Quarters Min
utes, aud, on Coming to the Surface,
Falls Back n Corpse.
fCincinnatI EnquIror.I /

Tuesday a merry party Of young men
left the city for a fishing spree. They
reached Knorr's ice-pond, few miles
| from Middletown, about noon. Shortly
before six o'tl Ick In the evening ono oil
/ the r number, Jacob SchatE, the lightest
hearted member Of ali the crew, was
dragged from the depths OF the lake q
corpse, and shortly after dark Mauthe,
/ jeweler on Vine near Court, was horri-
fed at receiving telegram:
"Jake has been drowned. What shall w
dog BILLY srRErz."
Last evening the remaining members OF
the party reached Cincinnati, bearing
with them the body Of their dead COM
rade.
The circumstances attending the lament
able incident that has been thus briefly
outlined are peculiarly inte resting, Illus
trating as they do to what an extreme OF
recklessness a mans rnalter able faith In
bis own powers Of endurance will some-
times lead him-as, for instance, in this
case, even to his death.
A group Of hardy, athletic young fell
ws have grown mp together, and of late
years have b,en accustomed to congre-
CRATE in the few places Of amusement on
the west side OF Vine, between Court and
South Canal They were all alive to the
beauties OF outdoor sports. The drowned
man (Schaiz) was On expert swimmer and
diver, and to his excess OF skill in this
p-rticular feature OF aquatic sports may
be at ributed his untimely end.
A few evenings since the boys were all
grouped In Curly's shooting gallery, and
during the evening an argument arose as
IN hnx he. Ill
to remain under water. Schatz declare d
his ability to so remain for two minutes,
and was laughed at.
Il can do IT," he said, with much earn
estness. "I know l can, because I've tried
It."
His companions remained incredulous.
"You pay my way into tho bath house
md l'll prove It TO you now," aud he rose
10 go, but the rest would not listen. The
argument resulted in the laying OF a wager
tetween Frohmeyer and the deceased on
the point at ISSUE, It's settlement being left
to n future occasion.
All the party seem to have forgotten
the circumstance of the wager except
the det 'rmin ID principal. They reach cd
the lake at noon Tuesday, and at once
scattered.
A skif containing William Goodheart
and George Msehan appeared. The two
were on their way to the lake, by the
cana. One Of them carried n watch. No
sooner had Schatz not ced the fact than
he turned TO Frohmeyer and remarked
that there was an opportunity OF set
Ting their wager. "Now. you time me-"
he c1ncluded, and, initiating his lungs,
stood for an instant nicely poised on the
edge OF the staging, and then like a fash
shot.headto remost into the water. At the
expiration Of n minute hs arose putting to
the surfacN He complained of feeling a
pricking sensation between his should
er-blades. The sensation passed speedily
away, and In few minutes he
announced that he was rea ly once
more The second time ho adopted
msasures that would warrant his
remaining underneath the water un-
til he chose to rise. He swan
underneath tho staging ami, reach
Ing up, secured firm Id OF a chain that
ex ended between two OF tho posts. Be
fore going down he arranged with those
above TO shout at the expiration of each
quarter. Then, holding his nose with his
left hand, his right still grasping the
chain, he sank gradually down until Just
The crown of his head was visible in the
water The seconds sped by, and as the
hand approached the limit of time oae Of
the boys turneI to Frohmeyer with the
remark:
"You've lost your bet"
Two minutes, and the first quarter on
the third was scored, and still the white.
muscular arm retained its rigidity and
tho sun-browned hand still grasped the
chain.
"Two thirty" the time-keeper an
nounced, aud the watchers grow uneasy.
Just as the minute hand passed two and
three -fourths the Divers head appeared
above the surface He expelled the air
from his lungs. and, before any one could
interfere, the hand that had graspeI the
chain fell limp upon the surface of the
water, and the swimmer sank like a stone
to the bottom.
In an instant all was excitement Young
Mauthe called excitedly to Stretz, who
was rowing leisurely, to hurry In with
the skin, as Schatz was drow ming. Then
he leaped into the water, and found the
body, Tut was unable to raise It.
'As soon as felt it." said he relating
the terrible story. 81 knew it was all up
WIN SdACt ouu kOb 30 weak Cne OCner
boys had to help me out" Stretz reached
the spot moment later, and grasping the
chain, let himself down, and twining his
legs about the body Of his friend, drew it
TO the surface Among thom they placed
it upon the shore, and that ended a fish,
ing excursion that all will remember with
n shudder as long as they live An in :
quest by the Middletown Coroner resulted
In verdict Of death by drowning.