The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-01-08
Capt. Joseph AnkIi, OF the Tug ''Hoff-
nung," Drowned in Mid-Lake
After Terrific Struggle.
SINKS IN SIGHT OF THE CREW.
Ankli Had Slipped on the ley Deck OF the
Were Made to Save Him.
(From Tuesdays Daily,)

NcAOM AuOo0oy . Oo41g
Captain Joseph Ankli, sailing master
of the tug "Hofnung" and one of the
best known fishermen in this section
of the State, lost his life in lake Mich
igan shortly after eight O'Clock this
morning. The body sunk in forty-two
fathoms of water, and it is probable
that it will find last resting place on
the bottom of the lake.
The accident has caused universal
sorrow among the men about the har-
Dor, with whom Ankli was a general
favorite. The stories of the death of
the Captain as told by the members of
the crew of the tug are of a most pa
thetic nature, and show that the
man sank when he had been all but
rescued from his perilous position.
The Hoffnung with its full crew of
six men had started out shortly after
six O'Clock this morning for her usual
daily fishing trip. Captain Ankli was
at the wheel, aud he piloted the little
vessel to mid-lake and the men began
to prepare to set the nets. Fred Ba1ow,
who is the partner of the drowned man,
was in the engine room and at the
command of the Captain he brought
the boat to a stand still and Capt.
Ankh came out of the pilot room to
assist the men in setting the nets. AS
he walked from the pilot room his feet
slipped on the icy deck, and he was
thrown against the railing of the yes
sci. He attempted to get up, but at
the same time great wave came up
and rocked the little craft, and the
Captain was thrown backward over
the side of the tug.
The accident was witnessed by the
four members of the crew, and they
rushed to the aid of their officer. He
came up some distance from the boat
and the engines were quickly reversed
and the boat was brought along side
the drowning man. A long pole, used
for lifting the fish, was called into
service, aud the fight for life began.
The pole was thrown to Ankli and he
managed to get hold of it, and the men
on deck began to haul him in. But
they had failed to reckon with the
| treacherous waves, and when the man
was within few feet of safety a great
wave rolled over him and washed the
pole from his hands.
The Captain had been in the water
for nearly ten minutes, but he made
game struggle with the waves.
Weighed down with the heavy oiled
clothing and fishing boots he sank
again, and Engineer Ba1ow came to
the aid of the other men. He threw
line to the sinking man, but Ankli was
all but too weak to grasp it, and it be-
came entangled in his sinking form.
This gave him new hope, but as he was
being drawn in the line broke, and he
again slipped back into the waves
The pole was again secured and Ba-
low held one end while his partner held
the other, but at the last moment
Ankli was seized with cramps, and
with look that will never be forgot
ten by the men, he loosed his hold on
his one hope for life and sank to the
bottom. For some time the crew
searched for the body, and then hang
ing the flag at half mast they put back
to the harbor.
They hurried to the home of Ankli
and broke the news of his loss to the
wife aud little baby, who had been
awaiting his return. The scene was a
pathetic one, and Mrs. Ankli is pros
trated with the shock of the news of
her husbands terrible fate.
Capt. Ankli was 81 years of age. He
came to this city from st. Joe, Mich,
two years ago and had been a partner
IN the firm of Balow & Ankli. The
company had been doing good busi-
ness and was we'll liked among the
fishermen in Kenosha.