Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-07-11
LOUIS ]. ZIMMERMAN VICTIM OF MOTOR
BOAT ACCIDENT SATURDAY NIGHT NEAR
FALLING WATERS BODY IS RECOVERED
cad Man Last Seen BY Companions After Holding Up Sunk
en- Boat While Motor Was Removed-Had Stroke In About
Three Feet OF Water And Body Didn't Drift.

The Potomac river near Failing
Waters claimed Its first victim this
season Saturday night, when Louis
j. Zimmerman, aged AZ, son OF Mrs. 4
A. Zimmerman. 3l6 Boyd avenue,
lost his life in about three feet Of
water. The body was found Sunday
morning about 9.45 o'clock within
d few feet of where he went down
and in about four feet of water, and
was turned over TO Funeral Direc-
tors kogelschatz, by whom 1t was
prepared for burial.
The deceased, together with Siler
Engle and John Englebright, left
Martinsburg Saturday night about 8
o'clock to visit the camp of Oscar
See, a short distance below Falling
Waters on the Maryland side. This
had been their usual custom during |
the heated term and they had spent
preceding Sundays along the river. |
Saturday night after reaching the
camp the three men decide to re-
turn, coming back to Falling Waters. /
using for this purpose the row boat |
vi DOyu ollNtI, M WilttI IL iuOlOI lldtL
been attached. About a mile below |
Falling Waters and some feet from
the Maryland bank the boat for |
some reason or other sank leaving !
its occupants standing in the water |
| and with the necessity of walking |
to the shore.
They called for assistance and
Mr.. Sees motor boat and party cana
to their aid. also Lawrence Caskey
in another moter boat. In order to re-
move the motor 1t was necessary to
overturn the boat and hold 1t up
while the colts could be unscrewed
from the other side. Mr.. Zimmer>
man held up one end and Mr.. Engla
the other, while Mr.. Englebright re-
moved the motor and transferred It
to Mr.. Sees boat. Messrs. Engle
and Englebright also got into Mr..
/ Sees boat and went back to camp
with the expectation that Mr.. Zim-
norman would get into Mr.. Cas-.
keys boat.
However, in the darkness, this
was along about II o'clock, plans
somehow or other miscarried and
when Mr.. Caskey returned to camp
without Mr.. Zimmerman 1t caused
some apprehension and all went
back to look for the missing man.
believing he had walked ashore.
They were unable to locate Mr. Zim-
norman and as soon as possible
sent word back to Martinsburg and
relatives and searching parties went
to the river early Sunday morning.
A search along the banks soon re-
vealed that Mr. Zimmerman had
not walked out and 1t was then d.
rected along the river proper, with
the result that the dead man was
found in crouching position short
distance from where he went down
and an examination OF the body led
Investigators to believe that he had
either been stricken with heart
trouble or the sudden shock of be-
ing thrown into the cold water
while in an overheated physical
condition because Of the high tenn
perature may have caused cramps.
A bruised place on Mr. thinner
mans forehead is thought could
have been sustained by him falling
and striking the boat.
The deceased was an excellent
sWlmmer and 1t was an easy matter
for him to have walked ashore, UNI
less in the darkness he took the
wrong direction and stepped into
deeper water and fell. But relatives
and friends are constrained to be-
( ieVe he died from heart failure, he
was fully dressed The tragedy caus
ed considerable excitement late Sat
nrday night and Sunday morning,
the first report being that all three
mon had drowned.
Coroner Jacob Sites, who had
been summoned to the scene, after
due examination and obtaining a de-
tailed account of the circumstances
50 far as survivors and those at the
scene gave, was of the opinion that
an inquest was unnecessary.
The shock of the affair practical
ly Frustrated the victims aged mo-
Their, who has not been in good
health because of her advanced
age, and The family is still rather
apprehensive as to the outcome.
The deceased had been employed
at the interviewer since Christmas.
wien Tue pIdHL at Newcastle, Pa, In
which he had been employed, closed
down because of business depres-
sion. He was joyial, fun-loving
man by disposition and was widely
known throughout Martinsburg. He
is survived by his mother, one dau.
Shter, Miss Gladys, who resides with
her grandmother, formerly Miss
Daisy Hess, some years ago; four
brothers. Messrs. Charles, Of Balti-
more. August. the well known rner.
chant; Arthur, Of the Peoples Trust
Co.. George, and four sisters, Miss
Lizzie, u home; Mrs ]. Henry Win.
termoyer, OF Wheeling. w. Va;
Mrs D. J. Austin, Of Fort Lauder
. dale. Fla, and Miss Clara at honls.
Funeral Later
The funeral will be held from the
late home Tuesday afternoon at
o'clock. In the absence of the fam.
! ily's pastor Rev DR.. F. p. Wagner,
of st. Johns Lutheran church, the
, officiating minister will he Rev. A. rs
NJ Chuck, " Christ Reformed