Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-09-13
IN POTOMAC
Rev. H. Max Lent Meets Death
While Bathing
WAS TEACHING GIRL TO SWIM
The Accident Occurred on the Maryland Side
Of the River at ShepherdstOwn, Where
Rev. Leniz Was Pastor Of the
Lutheran Church.
WAS TEACHING GIRL TO SWIM
Lutheran Church.

Lutheran Church.
One of the most shocking accide nts
that has occurred in Shepherdstown
for years took Iplace Tuesday after
noon between 4 and o'clock, VIII en-
Rev. II. Max Lentz, pastor of the Lu-
theran church of Shepherdstown and
Uviella, was drowned in the Pot omac
river Rev. and Mrs. Lentz and a
party of young people went down to
the river in the afternoon about 4
O'Clock. They crossed TO the Mary
land side and proceeded to point
frequented bv bathers just above the
Norfolk and Western Railroad bridge.
Rev. Lentz and two visiting ladies
donned their bathing sui s. but Mrs.
Lentz and her daughter thought it
was too cool to battle aud decided TO
remain ON the shore.
The minister started out to teach
Louise Anna Snyder, daughter of Ed
itor Harry l.. Snyder, of the Shep-
herdstown Register, how to swim.
The minister with the little girl by his
side entered the water, walked out a
short distance and then started to
swim. He had reached point in the
river about forty feet from the shore,
when the persons on 1.-THE bank Of the
stream saw him suddenly sink from
views The young lady he was sup
help and few moments later she also
disappeared. In short time she
came mp and was going down the sec
ond time. wnen Kieffer Young. of Hag-
erstown. who is visiting III Shepherds
town. rescued her.
/ In the meantime the greatest excite
ment prevailed among those vito were
watching the bathers The news spread
to Shepherdstown and prompt steps
were taken to rescue the body of Rev.
Lentz. The remains were recovered
in the water.
Physicians made an examination of
the body and reached the conclusion
that Rev. Lentz was taken suddenly
i'll with apoplexy while in the water.
There were no marks on the body and
its condition led the physicians 10 be-
lievethat the stroke rendered him help
less and that he was powerless to try
to save himself.
1t is said Mrs. Lentz and her daugh-
ter both tried to persuade Rev. Lentz
not to go bathing on account of the
cool weather. Knowing. however,
that the young ladies We're anxious for
him to teach them how to swim, Rev.
Lentz told his wife and daughter that
4 he would stay. i'll the water only a
short time He was an expert swim
mer and always enjoyed teac hing the
art to others.
A PROMINENT MINISTER.
Hualpha Maximus Lentz was ma
tie of Statewide. N. O., and was born
April 20, 1851 He was prepared for
college at Gettysburg Seminary and
was ordained to the Lutheran minis
try in 1881. His first charge was at
Mount Morris, H., and he also seyyed
u congregation at Eureka, Kan, and
Fairfield, La. Previous to coming TO
Shepherdstown he was pastor of the
church at Florence, Boone county,
KY, and was editor Of the Lutheran
World, one of the prominent clruch
/ papers, for two years while ii was
published at Cincinnati He became
pastor of the church IN Shepherdstown
in October, 1900, and was highly re-
garded there as a pastor and public
spirited citizen. He was man of un-
unusually bright and alert mind and oc-
cupied a prominent position in the Lu-
theran church. He is survived by his
widow. who was Miss Fair of fancy
town, Nd. two sons and two daugh-
tefs.
REMAINS INFERRED.
The remains of the late Rev. H. Max
Lentz, who died in the Potomac river
Tuesday afternoon while teaching
some i.ltle girls how to swim, were
Inferred in Elmwood cemetery. Shep-
herdstown Friday morning, Services
weree held at the Lutheran chruch at
10 80 O'Clock.
While teaching.the girls how to swim
Rev. Lentz lost all control of himself
and sank instantly and never rose
again until his body was recovered.