Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-28
Miss knaack's Remains Float.
ing in the River.
BEEN GONE SINCE JUNE 10.
Her Mysterious Disappear
ance From the Verne.
Coroner's Jury Says Drowning
Was Accidental.


who mysteriously disappeared from
the packet. Verne Swain, June 10,
was found floating near the Illinois
shore at Woodward's Grove at $3.50
yesterday afternoon. The body had
fioated only p miles from the point
where the young lady was last seen
alive-Princeton. 1t had evidently
been held close to shore, becom-
ing anchored at different places,
only TO again be started on its Jour-
ney toward home by the waves from
passing boats.
Branches Of willows were placed
over the corpse. which it was at once
apparent from the long hair and
dress. was that of q woman, and
Coroner l. V. Eckhart was notified.
In the meantime Capt. William
Kuaack, of the Verne Swain, uncle of
the missing girl, heard of the finding
Of the body. and on the up trip put
the packet in at Woodward's Grove.
He Immediately identified the re-
mains - those OF his niece. Under
taker Wendt, of Port Byron, took
charge Of the body, taking it to his
undertaking rooms, where an in
quest was held this morning.
The coroner's jury, which was
composed of G. W. McCaskrin, FORE
man. A. H. Wendt, +. F. Rogers. j.
w. Moody, N. Sayre and E. b Stone.
returned a verdict that Bertha
Knaack came to her death by acct
dental drowning. H. T. Brown. who
went out in skiff aud brought the
body to shore. testified. as did Ar
thur johnson, who frst saw the.
aoater. Capt. Knaack and Ella
Wheeler, cook on the Verne Swain.
also testified before the Jury. Capt.
Kuaack said he believed she fell
from the boat. He said she was in
excellent spirits at the time of her
disappearance. and he would know
Of no rea son for her committing sui
eide. The waist aud apron of the
body were the property on Ella
Wheeler, SO she claimed. The bod y
was exceptionally we'll preserved con-
sidering the length of time it had
been in the water.
Mystery Cleared Up.
The recovery of Mics knaack' e
body clears up case which was
shrouded in mystery. She was tax
ing few trips on the boat. June 10
at 4:3O p. m, while the Verne was
coming toward Rock Island, she dis.
appeared just after leaving Prince
ton. Her cclothes aud money we're
found in her room. No one saw her
-
thought that she disguised herself
and left, but her motive for doing
such thing could never be under
stood.
Relatives of the dead girl were at
the Diamond 10 landing this morn
ing when the Verne Swain came in
to get definite infor nation as to the
find at Woodward's grove. Capt.
knaack confirmed the report.
Among those at the landing was Ed
; Warnken. of Davenport, who was to
have been MARI led TO Miss Knaack
June % last. The family of the
young lady have been greatly af.
fected by her disappearance, as was
her intended husband, but there il
some consolation in knowing the
truth. Mics Knaack made her home
with her grandmother. Mrs. AIMS
Knaack. aud her uncle. Capt. Viii
liam Kuaack, 533 Twenty second
street. She had been raised by the
Knaack family since a child, hel
mother. Mrs. Frank Siegelmann. liv.
ing in Davenport.
The remains arrive on the steam
er. City Of Winona, at $50 O'Clock
this evening and will be taken direc
to Chippiannock cemetery for inter
ment.