Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-09-11
REV. n. MAX LENTZ DROWNED.
The Pastor of the Lutheran Church Sinks to
Death In the Waters of the Potomac.

One of the most distressing occur
rences that has happened in Shep'
! herdstown in many years was the
f drowning Tuesday afternoon Of Rev
II. Max Lentz, pastor of the Lutheran
churches of Shepherdstown and Uvilla'
Mr.. Lentz had gone to the Potomac
river with his elder daughter, Ruth,
and his son, Hualpha, his niece,
Miss Bessie Fair, and Louise Anna
Snyder, the daughter of the editor OF
the REGISTER. Mrs. Lentz also &C.
companied the party, but remained
at the dollhouse on this side of the
river, with the family of Mr.. Kee-
seeker, while the others in the party
crossed to the Maryland side of the
river. Mr.. Lentz and the young
folks went to the sandbar about mid
way between the two bridges, and
were soon in the river. They had
been in the water for some time, when
Mr.. Lentz proposed to give Louise
Anna some lessons in swimming. She
placed her hands on his shoulders,
and they were swimming in water
about FIVE or six feet deep, when Mr..
Lentz, without an exclamation or a
struggle, suddenly sank. Louise An
ma also went under, but quickly reap
peared. The others Of the party, who
were on shore, some twenty feet dis
tant from them, saw there was trouble,
and KY Young, boy about fifteen
years of age, plunged in the water to
help. He succeeded in getting hold
of Louise Anna and held her up until
Miss Fair reached them with boat
into which she dragged the exhausted
child.
Mr.. Lentz never came to the sur
face after he first went down. 1t is
believed that his heart must have be-
come suddenly affected and caused
his instant death, as there was no sign
that he had been attacked with cramp,
1t was about half.past four o'clock
when the accident occurred. An
alarm was at once given, and the
people hurried to the river, where
efforts were Immediately set on foot
to recover the body. Men with boats
were quickly on the spot, and about
five clock the remains were recov-
cred by James Wintermoyer, Roland
Myers and Leonard and Herbert Rog-
ers. The body was found where it
bad gone down, as there was little or
no current at that place. 1t was
brought to the Virginia shore, and
from there taken to Mr.. Hoffman 8
undertaking rooms, where it was pre-
pared for burial. About ten o'clock
it was taken to the Lutheran parson-
age. Efforts were made when the
body was first taken from the water
to resuscitate it, but the spark Of life
had fed, never to return.
The terrible accident cast gloom
over the community. The people
could scarcely believe that the strong,
vigorous man who had been on the
streets in full health and enjoyment of
life only couple of hours previous
was now cold in death. The sad &C.
currence was not only great shock
and cause of great distress to his par
ishioners, but the people generally
felt the blow. The news quickly
spread, and many members Of his
church from the country around at
once drove to town to offer condo
lence, hoping against hope that the
sad story was not true.
One of the painful features of the
affair was the great distress of Mr..
Lentz's family. Three Of his children
were with him at the time, and, pow
erless to help him, saw him sink to
death beneath the water. His wife
also was a witness of the tragedy from
the opposite side Of the river. The
bereaved ones were quickly attended
by sympathizing friends and taken to
their home, where all that loving
thoughtfulness could suggest was done
for them. They bore up under the
affection as well as their grief-stricken
hearts would permit.
Hualpha MaXimus Lent was born
April 20, 1851 near Statesville, North
Carolina. He was prepared for COL
lege at Catawba High School. He
entered Pennsylvania College at Get
tysburg and graduated in the class of
1878. He took the theological course
in the seminary connected with that
institution, and wac ordained as
minister of the Lutheran Church in
1881. His first charge was at Mt.
Morris, Ill. He afterward served
congregations at Topeka, Kansas, and
Fairfield, Iowa. From Fairfield he
went to Florence, Kentucky, and
while serving this charge was at the
same time editor of the Lutheran
World, then published at Cincinnati.
He conducted that paper from 1898
to 1900. In October, 1900, he &C.
copied a call from the Lutheran
churches Of Shepherdstown and Uvilla,
and began his ministry the first of
November following.
Mr.. Lent became pastor Of the
Lutheran church here and at Uvilla a
little less than two years ago, having
entered upon his ministerial duties
the first of November, 1900, succeed
ing Rev. G. H. Hockey. He was a
preacher of ability and pastor who
looked carefully after the flock COM
mitted to his charge, He mad bright,
alert mind, quick to grasp a point
and ready to express his thoughts, and
having been a widely read man he