The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-07
FOUND In THE LAKE.
BODY OF W. J. REiyECKER, WHO
DISAPPEARED A WEEK Ago.
He Had Lost His Position and His
Health, aud His Nisfortanes
Drove Him to a Suicides Death
In Lake VaieR-Discevery OF the
Corpse Made by Fred Schram, the
Boathouse Keeper.

The body Of ". j. Reinacker, who was
reported IN the Observation-Disclosures yester-
day morning as missing from his home.
81 Aloha street. was found yesterday
morning AT l:sa o'clock floating In Lake
Union near the old Cliff house.
The condition Of the body indicated
that Dir Reirecker must have taken his
fatal plunge about the time he disap-
prared, week ago yesterday. There
were no signs Of violence. and taking all
the circumstances connected with the
case into consideration. IL is not probable
that Coroner yandeii will consider in
necessary to hold an inquest
The gruesome discovery was made hy
Fred Schram. who is the proprietor OF
the Lake Union boat house. His break
fast table Is near q window looking out
over the lake. and while eating ne noticed
an object floating in the water. A closer
observation confirmed his suspicion that
ii was the body OF man The head and
feet were DOWN. Sehram secured the body
10 the wharf by means of fish line. and
then felephoned 10 Capt Hogie at police
headquarters. Coroner YandelI upon be-
ing notified that there was a case at Lake
Union. instructed Deputy Coroner Butter
worth 10 investigate
Butterworth was satisfied the moment
he looked at the corpse that il was that
of w. ]. Reineeker. because 1t answered
the description given in the post-IntelIi-
gencer. Moreover, he found In an inside
pocket a Dill from the California market
addressed 10 Mr.. Relnecker," a portion
or fost-ln'elhgencer and prescrip-
ton for medicine. In his trousers pocket
was knife with a light-coiores handle.
Having completed his examination OF
the body, Butterworth went 10 221 Aloha
street, where Mr.. Reineeker lived. IL is
not an easy matter to tell a woman that
a body. presumably that of her husband.
has Just been fished out of the water In
the present case the question OF identifi-
cation was hardly necessary. because the
features of the pretty. neat-looking little
5-year-old child that was with Mrs Rein
ecker were those OF the dead man. The
moment that Mrs. Reinecker saw the
pocket knife she was satisfied that her
husband was dead
She told Butterworth story that was
in substance the same as printed yester-
day morning. She said that sometimes
she feared Mr.. Reinecker was not in his
right mind. Two weeks ago tomorrow he
was working on the shore of Lake Union
The day was very warm and he drank a
great deal OF lake water. When he re-
turned home that evening he was taken
violently i'll. A physician was summoned,
and upon hearing the circumstances said
that the Illness was due TO the water
Mrs. Reinecker also said she did not know
when her husband left the house a week
ago yesterday evening. At the time he
returned for supper she was not feeling
well, and he remarked that it was too bad
that sickness came to the household when
he was out of work. The poor man had
lost his position with the city street de-
partment, his health was not good. ill
luck seemed to follow him persistentiy,
and he was at the point where the future
seems 10 be dark and dreary. Some time
in the night he went away, never to re-
turn in life to his faithful wife and two
little children.
His body was removed to Butterworth's
undertaking rooms and will be held pend
ing arrangements for the funeral services
Mr.. Reinecker was a native of Quincy,
Ind. He was 50 years old, and a carDen-
ter by trade. He had lived i'm this state
for several years. and was respected by
all who knew him. The belief that he was
broken down In mind is held by number
of people who knew him. He has two
brothers living in st. Paul one OF them,
Charles Renecker, is head bookkeeper for
Lindeke. Warner g. Schurmeier. He was
insured for small amount in the Pacific
Mutual.