The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-06-20
DROWNED AT a PARK.
Nellie Neff and Albert Schabacher
Lose Their Lives While Boat
Ing on Washington Lake.

er of A. J. Neff of $40 Walrond ave-
nue., a member of the recent gradu-
ating class of the High school, and
Albert l.. Schabacher of 637 Garfield
avenue. were drowned while boating
in Washington park lake last night.
They were together in rowboat and,
it is supposed, attempted to change
seats and thus capsized the boat and
were thrown into the water and
drowned within sight of several boat
ing parties. Neither could swim.
and those within distance to make a
rescue were too Mortified or confused
to save them.
About Q o'clock wild cries for help
rang across the quiet waters and
horrihed the attendants at the boat
house, 800 yards away. The people
at the boat house pulled out to the
place of excltemet quickly but when
several boats came together at the
spot nothing was found except an up
turned boat. 1t was evident that the
occupants of the boat were drowned
and the park people, under the di-
lection of ]. H. Staley, began drag
ging for the bodies at once. In the
general horror, the people boating on
the lake hurriedly pulled in and no
one seemed to know who bad been
drowned. For time nobody could
be found who had witnessed the
accident. In little time, however, a
woman's straw hat and a mans hat
were found in the water together
with woman's light wrap. In the
straw hat was the name of Nellie
Neff. About this time the friends of
Miss Neff and Mr.. Schabacher real
lied that they were missing.
A TENNIS CLUBS OUTING.
The particulars Of the accident are
these: The Walrond Avenue Tennis
club gave picnic at Washington
park yesterday afternoon. The party
was chaperoned by Mrs. B. c. King
and was composed of thirteen per-
sons, all well known in the social
circles of Kansas City and living on
or near Walrond avenue. AT $40
o'clock last evening most of the party
put out in four boats for row on
the lake. The boats did not keep
together.
About 9 o'clock young man OF
the name of Miller, who was boating
with lady, observed man standing
up in boat some little distance from
the summer opera amphitheater on
the west side of the lake. The next
moment he saw him pitch into the
water. Thereupon arose the cries for
help, which were heard all over that
part of the lake and caused the con-
fusion and excltment. One of the
young men of Miss Neff's party saw
the drowning, but did not realize who
the struggling persons were. The
young woman with him was so badly
frightened that their boat was endan-
gered, and he attempted to land the
frightened young lady before going to
the rescue. He failed to affect a
landing, the girl went into Mysteries,
and, when he pulled back, he was
too late to save two lives.
Another man had two ladies in his
boat who also became alarmed to a
hysterical point and he was impeded
in his efforts to pull to the scene.
Other men on the lake, with ladies
in their boats, before they could
make out just what>was going on and
acquire clear heads, were of no serv-
ice. 1t was too late.
Waldo ]. Brent, who was in skif
with Miss Alice M. Barnby, was the
nearest one Of the party to the scenee
of the accident at the time of its oc.
currence. He says he heard rat
Ting sound like that of oars coming
in contact with the boat, a splashing
and calls for help from Schabacher'
He rowed to the spot, found the
boat, Miss Neff's straw hat and hel
cloak.
Benjamin S. Deatherage, said: 81
was in a skiff about 800 or 400 fee,
from the parties when the acciden
happened. heard Mr.. Schabache1
call for help and rowed toward hin
as rapidly as could, as there were
three young ladies in the boat with
me. Mr.. Schabacher had one arm