The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-01-02
DROWNED In YOLO.
Louis Melchoir's Fatal New Years
Day Hunt.
He Faints and Falls From His Duck
Boat, and Was Lffeless When
Discovered.

! Louis Melchoir, a well-known must
clan. and an old resident of this city, met
his death yesterday under singular
circumstances, while returning in boat
from shooting expedition.
AS near as can be ascertained, Melchoir
must have been stricken with heart dis
ease or apoplexy, as he evidently fell over
helpless, capsizing his duck-boat.
He left this city some time yesterday
morning, and had been shooting ducks in
the vicinity of Todhunter's orchard, about
two miles west of the Yolo bridge. in
Yolo County.
William Eberhardt was returning from
shooting trip in the same vicinity, and
as he reached an orchard near the road
side saloon he recognized Melchoir, an
old friend and acquaintance of his, and
stopped TO speak with him, remarking
that he was on the way home. Melchoir
said he had only killed one duck, but was
also ready to return.
The two men dragged their boats over
the roaQ levee near Todhunter's, and
prepared to row back over the overflow
( toward Washington. Melchoir com
| Planned that he had a very severe head
acne and didn't know what to think OF it.
Eberhardt says he had both whisky
ana cold coffee with him, and lie offered
1t 10 Melchoir, who took drink OF the
coilee Eberhardt then asked Melchoir
to return in his boat, which was a large
one, and tow the other.
Melchoir declined, however, preferr-
ing to paddle his own boat. and
the two men set out, llberhardt going
ahead short distance. He glanced back
| occasionally and saw Melchoir following,
until clump of willows interviewed, and
he lost sight of him for a lew moments.
Eperhardt was near the levee, and a
| BOY came along on horseback going in
the direction of Melchoir, and Eberhardt
asked him to see what detained him
Inc Doy had been gone but a few mo-
ments when he galloped back and
shouted to EDerhardt that the other boat
was upset.
,Eberhardt went back as quickly as pos
sible, and reaching the overturned boat.
rlghted 1t as quickly as he could, only to
ma Melchior under it in the water, with
his legs hanging to the seat.
By THIS time Martin White and two or
tnfee other young men were attracted to
the place, and they helped Eberhartlt get
the unfortunate man out on the levee.
where everything possible was done "a
revive MN, but in vain. He had not
been out OF Eberhardt's ssight more than
hfteen minutes, and he thinks he was
not IN the water more than ten minutes
/ The boat capsiZed within fifteen or
/ twenty feet of the levee, in still water.
not over six or eight feet deep. AS the
/ duck-boat used by Meichoir was a very
light one, easily handled in the water.
EDerhardt says he can account for Mel
cholr's death i'll no way but that he must
| have been Overtaken with heart disease
/ or tainted from some cause and SimpI V
tell over, thus overturning the boat, and
/ being unable to make an effort to save
/ himself. Unless this was the case he
could easily have freed himself from the
/ boat and reached the bank in a few
/ strokes. He was a good swimmer and
! boat!nan, and had been on many such
expeditions with Eberhardt and others.
The latter had known him for twenty
years, and they have been close friends.
He speaas very warmly Of his good traits,
and says he never drank to speak of lie
was one of the best musicians on the
coast, and was a member of both the San
Francisco and Sacramento Musicians,
| Unions. In this city he has been under
engagements with the different theaterq
and frequently went on the road with
travelling troupes, always returning to
Sacramento.
Deceased was native of Steirmark.
Austria, and came 10 this State ABOUT
twenty years ago. He was AZ years Of
age. He had roomed at a house in
Slater's Addition for number of years.
being bachelor. lie has no relatives I'M
this country. Of late years he has been
afflicted with stomach trouble, and
frequently complained OF that and severe
headaches.
Coroner Clark brought his body to the
Morgue last evening. His gun and hunt
| ing equipments were not recovered last
night.