The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-05-26
VERY SAD ENDING.
TO A WEEK OF PLEASANT OUT
ING.
Mrs. o. p. Chapman Loses Her Life While
Fishing at North Bass Island.

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their homes to partake of his hospitality
and enjoy the fishing that the waters sur
rounding the lake afford.
Early on last Friday morning Mr.,
Chapman expressed desire to try his
luck with the hook, and although the lake
was somewhat rough, Mrs. Chapman said
that she would like to go along too. Cap
tain Fox, who is an excellent sailor and
also perfectly familiar with the lake
around the islands, assured husband and
wife that there was no danger. Accord
ingly arrangements were made and the
marry Of three started for the fishing
grounds.
No trouble was encountered until the
boat was rounding Honey Point reef
where the waves were running danger
Ously high, higher, in fact, than any OF
the party realized. Captain Fox, who
was rowing, thought that the point could
be rounded in safety and as Mr.. and Mrs.
Chapman felt no fear the attempt was
made.
In making the turn, large wave
washed over into the boat, and as a mat
ter Of precautiOn, Mr.. Chapman and his
wife began to bail the water out. Sud
denly a second wave, larger than the
first, swept over the gunwale. Captain
Fox, seeing that the boat must swamp,
seized the tie rope and sprang into the
lake hoping he would find the water so
shallow that he could haul Mr.. and Mrs.
Chapman in the boat to place Of safety.
Unfortunately the boat was overturned
and Mr.. and Mrs, Chapman sank and
when they rose to the surface the boat
was about fifteen feet from them.
Mr.. Chapman, although not an expert
swimmer, battled manfully with the
waves in an endeavor to gain the protec-
tion of the upturned boat, and his wife
with rare courage assisted him greatly
by remaining perfectly calm and quiet.
Captain Fox could barely stand ON the
bottom, but the water was much
deeper where Mr.. and Mrs. Chap
man were struggling for life. See
ing that they were not likely
to reach the boat, being so heavily
weighted down with heavy clothing,
Captain Fox pushed the boat towards
them and followed it into the deeper
water, holding down the bow firmly Sc
that the keel might be kept above water
for them to hold on by until help migh'
, come from shore.
In the struggle the cape of heav!
} cloak, well soaked with water, was blown
+ over Mrs. Chapman's head, which mus
! have greatly retarded respiration If i
l did not prevent it altogether. Then be
gan ter, ible experience. Wave afte
wave dashed over the helpless lady ant
try as her brave husband would, he cOult
: not lift her beyond the reach OF them
Already his strength was well nigh eX
hausted and ii seemed beyond human
endurance to cling TO her longer. Bu
he held on. Minute after minute dragge,
along with leaden feet and it seemed t.
the despairing man as il each one mus
surely be the last. Thus half an hOu
passed away.
But help was coming. On the shore
quarter of mile distant young maj
had witness ed the accident. Running
quickly he summoned others to assis
him and in a few minutes yacht va
unmOOred and speeding to therescue. Bu
for one it arrived too late. Mrs. Chap
man, her husband and Captain Fox wero
taken into the yacht and carried to shOr,
as quickly as possible.
Although the lady showed no signs O
life, it was believed that she was not he
yond help. Arrangements for resuscita
ton, such as are commonly used in cases
of drowning, were hastily made, but al
effort to recall life, however long cOntin
ued, was in vain.
Then the husband made sOrrOwtul prep
aratiOns to return home. Mr.. Chapman
the remains of his wife and Mrs. Perkiu,
were taken to Sandusky at once on thO
steamer 0gentz. Wellington was com
municated with by telephone and rela
tives and friends informed of the suddel
bereavement. The afternoon train tool
to Sandusky Mrs. Austin Chapman, moth
er of O. P. Chapman, and +. +. Webster
and Mayor G. L. Couch, his lifelong
friends, who accompanied the sOrrowinI
, party home.
Mrs. O. P. Chapman was one of tht
most widely known ann popular society
ladies of Wellington. She counted hel
friends among the best people of our vii
lage. She leaves beside her husband
two children, Robert ann Miss Byrd
Mr.. Chapman is a director Of the First
National Bank Of Wellington and a mem
ber of the firms, HOrr, Warner & Co., ant
Wean, Horr, Warner s. Co.
OUR NEW HOME.
Havin0 leosed the entire lower Hno,