Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-16
A WATERY GRAVE.
WILLIE HEIBEL BROWNS, LAST EVENING,
in WHEELING CREEK.
aBsrys Hole the Scene Of the Unfortunate Occur
sDee-Ths Circumstances Surrounding The
Drowning Peculiarly Sad-A
MOIher's Distress

That particular spot in Wheeling creek
known as ''Berry's hole" located just be-
yond the peninsula tunnel, which has been
used by the youth of Wheeling and viein-
ity for many years past as swimming
place, and which has been the scene OF the
death of number of the same youth from
drowning, again, last evening, figured In
the latter unpleasant light. The hole is
an unusually deep one and the boys who
can swim pretty well, always select it ON
this account. Yesterday, after the heavy
rain of the night before, the stream was
still swollen, the water muddy, and
Berry's hole was not a very inviting spot to
take a swim, especially as the water was
anything but warm.
However, q number of boys from the
city ventured in, last evening, and enjoyed
themselves swimming around, until about
! o'clock, when some one proposed that
they should swim races across and back.
This was assented to by the boys, among
whom was Willie Heibel, lad aged six
teen wears, who lived with his parents
at sos Market street After crossing and
recrossing the pool a number OF times Hell
bel, while in the centre OF the stream,
suddenly shouted for help and was seen to
sink from sight. HiseOmpaniOns naturally
were very much frightened and remained
almost parllyzed for u moment, during
which time the drowning boy rose to the
surface and succeeded in seiZing one OF his
companions who was near. The boy at
tempted to help his unfortunate compan-
ion. but was powerlesS, and as he sank
from sight his hold released, and they saw
him no more alive. 1t is presumed that
Young Heibel was attacked with cramps,
which rendered him entirely powerless to
save himself.
The alarm was given and pretty
soon crowd had collected on the banks OF
the creek, while men were engaged in fish
inc for the unfortunate lad, who was
found about an hour later. Word had
been telephoned from Fulton of the acct
dent. and when Mrs. Heibel, the youths
mother, was informed, the scene was
heartrending. She fell to the floor III Il
dead faint, and it WAS sometime before
the neighbOrS, who were called
in, succeeded in restoring her to con-
seriousness. She was then taken into the
house of n neighbor, rs the body of her
son was soon to be brought cold and stiff
in death into the house, which he had left
only a few hours before in all the yigOr
and buoyancy of youth, and she would be
spared the sight.
After the body had been recovered,
Coroner Schultze was notified and held an
inquest, returning verdict in conformity
with the above circumstances. Then the
body was taken to the young mans home,
where it was prepared for burial.
An especially sad circumstance con-
nected with the drowning was that the
boys father who is Wenzel Heibel, is EN-
plOyed at Pittsburg and visited his family
Yesterday, for the first time, in six weeks,
and lett last evening on the $50 train over
the Il. Il y. for the Smoky City, passing
close to the place where his son halfhOur
later met his fate. 4 telephone message
was sent to Chief Blackmore to notify Mr..
Ieibel of the circumstance when the train
arrived ut that point.
Young IIeibel was good, bright boy
and well liked by all who knew him. He
carried one of the routes for the Mieiligea-
Ger.