The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-09-17
! B. SMELTzER WAS
DROWNED IN COLUMBIA
SAD DEATH OF NEWBERRY COL
LEGIAN IN COLUMBIA.
Young Man Stricken While in Y. NJ.
G. A. Swimming POOl-The Com
munity Shocked.
Columbia Record, 18th.


about 20, was drowned, or died OF
acute indigestion in the swimming
pool of the Young Mems Christian as
sociation this morning. Mr.. Smeltzer,
who is known by all the college men
of the State as an athlete of superior
prowess, was swimming with friend,
G. Duncan, when the accident hap
nened. When in the middle of the
pool Mr.. Smeltzer was seen by Mr..
Duncan to throw up his hands and
call for help. Mr.. Duncan, who is a
poor swimmer, could give no assist
ance, so he called for help. Mr.. STRAIT
ton, secretary of the institution; Mr..
Ross, the physical director, and a
personal friend of Mr.. Smeltzer, and
others rushed to the scene, but they
were too late, for death had overtaken
the young man, and their efforts at
resuscitation were without avail.
J. B. Smeltzer, who lives with his
uncle and aunt, Mr.. and Mrs. P. H.
Haltiwanger, at 1929 Elmwood avenue,
left mis- home in the best of spirits. He
went to the Y. M. C. A. building and
secured a towel from Mr.. Coffin and
went to the pool. Shortly afterward
Mr.. Duncan went to the pool, where
he met his friend, Mr.. Smeltzer. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Duncan's statement,
young Sme1tzer descended into the pool
and swan the length Of it and as he
was coming back in the middle OF the
pool ne commenced to treading water,
and, throwing up his hands, called for
help. Mr.. Duncan, who is a poor
swimmer, saw that he could not assist
him, so he got out of the pool and call
ed for assistance. His cries being
heard by Ma. Stratton, Mr.. Ross and
others, they rushed to the pool.
When they arrived they saw young
smeltzer lying face downward on the
bottom. One of the men jumped in
and, with the assistance of Mr.. STRAIT
ton. pulled the body out. They i'm
mediately -endeavored to resuscitate
him. but their efforts and those of two
physicians, Drs. Knowlton and Rice,
who were called in, were without
avail
Where Mr.. Smeltzer sank, it was
not deeper than the mans head. The
bottom of the pool slopes gradually
and the theory was advanced that Mr..
smeltzer must have been rendered
HELPLESS by congestion or failure of
heart action, for he could easily have
walked from the deeper part of the
basin to the shallow water. One Of
his acquaintances said this afternoon
that he had heard that Mr.. Smeltzer
had partaken of barbecued meat dur
ing the. morning. The chill OF the
water may have produced acute indi-
gestion which affected the heart Of
the victim causing him to become
powerless in the water.
R. D. Walker, coroner for Richland
county, made preliminary investiga-
tion, and ordered the body turned over
to Mr.. Haltiwanger. He has reserved
his decision over the death until he
makes more extensive examination
into the facts surrounding Mr.. Smelt-
GERS death.
The news of the death of young
Smeltzer soon spread over the city,
and many expressions of sorrow were
heard; he is very popular young man
and is extensively known. He was
born in Columbia about 20 years ago,
his parents being Mr.. and Mrs. J. B.
Smeltzer, who died when he was very
young. Mr.. Smeltzer was adopted and
reared by his aunt and uncle, Mr.. and
Hrs. P. H. HaltiI anger. After grad
ra;ing from the Columbia high school
he attended Newberry college, from
which he graduated last year with
the degree of A. B. He was afterwards
appointed physical director of that
college, and he intended to assume
his duties when Newberry college op-
ened in the next few weeks. 1t was
also his purpose to study for an NJ
A. degree, in connection with his du-
ties as physical director.
While at Newberry young Smeltzer
won an enviable reputation as an
athlete; his fame was Statewide. He
was captain of his baseball team, and
was one of the doubles who won the
inter-collesiate championship of the