South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-05
MOTORBOAT AND
RAFT OVERTURN
ON INDIAN LAKE
Cooper Saves Life of Diver
and Two Others of Pace
Searching Party.

appeared and spying his body tan
gled IN seaweeds. about six feet be-
low the surface OF the water. he
dove for him. His first attempt 20
rescue Donovan failed. The heavy
suit OF armour and other equipment
attached 70 the diver made It ex-
tremely difficult for the local man
TO secure a firm hold on the help
less man.
Many Volunteer.
With logged determination writ
ten on his face, Cooper came 10 the
surface, snatched a few breathes
and made a second dive into the
underbrush after the entaugled vic
tim. This time he managed TO Sc
cure a firm grasp and with almost
a superhuman effort he again
reached the top Of the water with
his man and swan 20 a row-boat
that was standing nearby.
Despite the fact that Mr.. Donovan
was under the water for several
minutes, he claims that he is suf-
fering no i'll effects Of his experience.
He did say, however. that It was
through Mr.. Cooper's excellent work
that he was saved
The other members of the raft
and motor boat we're rescued by per-
sons who also were dragging the lake
in the vicinity where the accident
occurred and by several other per
sons who were watching the ma
neuvers Of the men from the shore.
Among the men VINO were first 10
aid in the rescue was John Chess
Ellsworth, father Of Miss Helene
Ellsworth. L. c. Humble, father of
Lyle Humble, r. A. Millhouse, NJ.
S. Staley, r. b. Harris and Officer
James Laveile of the local police
force.
Mr.. Ellsworth and the others were
standing on the shore when the raft
capsized and they Immediately
jumped into boats and rowed 20 the
aid Of the unfortunate men. They
succeeded in reaching three Of them.
while the others were picked up by
the persons rowing in the vicinity of
the accident. It occurred in such
short space Of time that It was only
the excellent work of the rescuers
that saved the entire party from
drowning.
Motor Boat Sinks.
The accident occurred when the
motor boat, which was pulling the
raft. made a sharp turn IN the
water and in so doing the nose Of
the raft was shot down below the
surface Of the water The speed
the motor boat was making together
with the sudden jerk forced the
front Of the raft down just far
enough in the water 10 make its pas
sengers lose their balance and
tumble into the lake.
Just as soon as Sgt. Kemmerly.
who was operating the motor boat,
noticed what had befallen the men
on the raft he stopped his boat and
one by one the persons in the water
managed 20 reach him. When near
ly all of them had climbed aboard,
the weight became more than the
boat could bear and it sank.
The men once more found them
selves in the icy waters and but for
the excellent rescue work that was
accomplished all might have been
doomed to a watery grave. Despite
the fact shat five Of the men were
able 10 swim. they claim they would
never have been able TO make shore
without help for the reason that the
extremely heavy clothing, they were
wearing and the hipboots made a
handicap for them which they might
not have been able to overcome.
When they were finally pulled
I ashore they were imm ediately
rushed 10 the summer cottage Of
[ Richard Keuhn. where they were al
/ lowed TO doff their wet clothing and
cuddle up alongside an extra warm
fire that had been built in the house.
Heavy blankets and dry wearing ap-
parel were given the men TO wear
| whilo their clothing was being dried.
Many prominent local women.
who had been watching the rescuers
at work all day, then came TO the
aid OF the rescued men and soon
a warm supper was served.
Report Received Here.
While al this was taking place at
Indian lake reports reached South
Bend that 10 persons had been
drowned This report came Through
/ the DOwagiac police department TO
Chief OF Police Peter Kline about
| Sis O'Clock. The Dowagiac officers
urged thelocal chief to send a squad
| OF men and a pulmotor to the scene
at once.
The chief rushed TO the police
garage and finding no machine with
which TO make the trip, corrallcd
I Harry Fritz. owner OF a garage in
the rear of the police station, and
requested him 20 take Serg't CT
/ Detectives KOczorowski and officer
/ Devoss and the pulmotor 70 the lai1s
/ Mr.. Fritz hOnored the chiefs request
and the trip 10 the lake was made
In IS minutes.
on their arrival the officers and
Mr. Fritz discovered that the report
OF the disaster had been given out
/ errcnOusly.
The near drowning experience OF
! the 10 men did not deter other
/ members Of the rescue party in their
search for the body Of Young Pace,
( and long after dusk more than a
dozen boats carrying more than a
score Of people We're still dragging
I the lake.
The fact that dynamite failed u
( bring the body OF the unfortunate
I boy TO the surface. veterans Of the
+ lake are Of the opinion that the
/ body is securely fastened IN tie
/ heavy growth OF underbrush near
the bottom ~ the lake. Others
have the opinion that the body
+ misht have been drawn into the
cuicksand and ia partially buried.
/ The rescue work viii be resumed
+ again today. other expert divers
from Chicago and St. Joseph have
/ been summoned 70 the lake and
I they will make every effort 20 locate
] ~-sr.- r-ar-err, q