The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-07
CT. DESCHLER DROWNED
4 WELL-KNoWN YOUNG MAN LOSES
HIS LIFE AT BROAD RIPPLE.
Was Swimming Across the River
Steam Launch Passed Him, but
No One Offered Aid.

Charles F. Deschler, one of the best
known young men of the city. was
drowned yesterday afternoon at Broad Rip
pie while bathing. He went out with a
party of friends TO try the new bathing
place and overdid himself He had crossed
the river and was attempting to swim back
to the side where the bath house and dress
ing rooms are located when he went down.
The eddy from the little steam launch
which plies the river probably had some
thing to do with his death. He was in the
middle of the river when the boat came
down the river He shouted to the boat
men to stop and save him, but those aboard
claim they thought it was the old story of
a smart Aleck' wishing to attract atten-
ton to his superior ability at swimming,
and the boat never stopped.
Brace up!" some one shouted from the
stern as the steamer passed him.
That was ALL AS the boat cut the water
within foot or two of Deschler he was
drawn backward, away from his course, by
the eddying OF the water This was more
than his exhausted strength could endure
and he went under.
Swimming near him, also crossing the
river, toward the bath house, was James
Breen, merchant policeman, who
has a district in the neighborhood
about South Illinois street and Ken
lucky avenue. When Deschler realized that
his strength was going, he shouted to
Breen:
Save me, Jim Breen, save met"
Breen says that he made effort to
reach the drowning man, but that the latter
sank out of sight, and by the time he
reached the place the current had carried
Deschler further down and out of his reach.
Deschler went to Broad Ripple on the 80
o'clock car in company with Charles Ahe,
cashier at the Bates House J. b. Howard
Louis Ottenheimer and young man by the
name of Dellehanty. They entered the
water at the bath house at about 230
o'clock, and it was between $3.50 and
o'clock that the young man lost his life.
Deschler, Able and Howard had taken
rowboat and had gone across the river
They sported about in the water about the
boat for half an hour until they tipped the
boat over. Deschler and Able swan to the
opposite bank and Howard remained with
the boat, trying to right it. After Fighting
1t he rowed across and he and Able got
into 1t to row back while Deschler said he
would swim the distance. The young men
say now that he had been in the water
so long that he was completely exhausted
before he started, although ne did not real
ize it himself and his friends did not
know it.
Ottenheimer did not stay as late as the
three men who were in the boat. He and
Deliehanty returned TO the city, leaving the
bath house at about $3.50. lie says that
while he and Deschler were sitting in the
sun in the little Enclosure for beginners,
Howard and Able came down the river with
the boat. Deschler jumped into the water
and swan out to the boat, calling to OF
tenheimer to come on.
1T was getting time for me to return to
the city,, said Ottenheimer, speaking of the
sad affair last night, land l had enough of
the water. So l told them L would dress
and come in. ! noticed from where | sat
that Charley had to make a considerable
effort to reach the boat, and it not far
from where he started to swim. When they
pulled him into the boat he lay down in
the bottom apparently exhausted. am not
surprised that he could not swim across the
river"
The two young men who were with
Deschler, Able and Howard, rowed across
the river and did not know the fate of
their friend until they reached the bath
closely associated at the Bates House for
number of years and were as intimate as
brothers. Able became frantic and insisted
on jumping into the river himself. He had
to be restrained by force. 1t was he who
first notified Mr.. Deschler's friends in this
city. He went to a telephone and called
the cigar store of Louis G.. Descher, at the
corner of Pennsylvania and Market streets.
Henry Burke the manager of the store, re-
CharIes's brother, was in the basement at
the time. Mr.. Burke was informed of the
death or young DeScnler ana requested TO
break the news to his brother. 1t was a
terrible blow to the brother.
My God!' he exclaimed, you don't mean
my brother Charley. Drowned! Charley
drowned!
He seemed completely dazed. Luke Pow
ers was in the store at the time and they
ing the first car, but arranging first with
Irwin & Adams, the funeral directors, to
send out for the body
When Mr.. DeSchler reached the place the
body had been recovered, M Matheson, an
employe at the bath house, and Edward
Wilkins succeeded in locating the body as
it lay in the bottom of the river and they
recovered it.
The cigar store at the corner of Pennsyl-
vania and Market streets was closed last
night and a piece of black and white crepe
on the door told the story. The stand at
the Bates House, of which the drowned
young man was manager, was also closed
and draped in black. Charles Deschler was
a popular young man, and his death was q
sad blow to a host of friends. He was a
model young man and was very devoted to
his parents, with whom he lived at 159
Park avenue. He a thorough bust
ness man, and by his exertions, had
been able, assisted by his brother
Louis, to make his old parents COM
and it is said that he remained single on
account of that devotion in order that he
might care for his parents the better. He
was associated with his brother in the cigar
and tobacco business. He was twenty
eight years old.
The funeral of Mr.. Deschler will take
place tomorrow morning at $3.50 clock,