Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1949-06-24
Fremont Couple and TOledOan
Are Latest Victims OF
Local Waters

and several others suffered pain
full injuries in series of auto ac-
cidents here over the weekend.
Sheriff Merriam Budd's department,
local police and the state high
way patrol We're taxed to answer
the many calls for help.
William M. Stephenson, 48, To-
ledo negro, was drowned in the
Portage River early Sunday when
he fell off the sand dock at the
Port Clinton Lumber and Coal
Company property. His body was
recovered five hours later.
Missing and believed drowned
We're Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Gabriel,
Fremont, who disappeared from an
outboard motor rowboat in San
dusky Bay, near Plasterbed. Res
cued in this tragedy were Mr.. and
Mrs. Dale Enders, also of Fre-
mont.
Mr.. Stephenson had been fishing
with friends at the north end of
Jackson Street when he fell into
the river. Friends told police the
man had stood up, evidently to
stretch, when he toppled into the
| river.
Sheriff Merriam Budd's depart
ment, local police and firemen
dragged the river until 6 a. m.
when fireman Ernest DHbbert and
Julian Sickmiller found the body
across the river from the pier.
The body was taken to the Dale
Mortuary in Toledo for services.
Two members of the Fremont
Fire department brought grap-
ping hooks here early Sunday to
help local firemen in the search
for the body of Mr.. Stephenson.
Clyde's fire department, learning
of the tragedy via police radio,
also offered to send help but it
was not needed.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gabriel were VIC
Tins of Sandusky Bay Sunday
afternoon. With their friends,
Mr.. and Mrs. Dale Enders, the
Gabriels had left Wightman's
Grove near Fremont at 2 o'clock
Sunday afternoon, travelling in
an outboard motor rowboat.
Mystery surrounded the tragedy
as the rowboat did not overturn.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gabriel and Mr.. En-
ders were tossed into the bay,
but Mrs. Enders remained in the
boat.
Mr.. and Mrs. Enders told the
sheriff that the three persons were
thrown into the bay when the boat
lurched after being hit by a wave.
Mrs, Enders said that Mrs. Gabriel
struggled in the water before she
went under When the Arcadia
men reached the scene, Mr.. and
Mrs. Gabriel had disappeared.
Four fishermen from Arcadia,
Ohio, Ralph Parish, Junior Hill,
Earl Bengler and Raymond Eisb-
man, heard the shouts for help and
rescued Mr.. and Mrs. Enders. The
Fremont couple was taken to
cottage near Schiewe's Acres and
later returned to the neighboring
city.
Sheriff Merriam Budd and U. S.
| Coastguards from Marblehead
searched for the bodies until 80
Sunday night. Search was ham,
pered as the exact site of the ac-
cident was not known.
Three Are Saved
Three other fishermen escaped
death in Sandusky Bay Tuesday
evening after the rowboat they
were using to run a catfish line,
overturned near Kings Place,
Danbury Road.
One of the fishermen was able
to swim ashore while the other
two clung to the overturned boat.
They were rescued by George
Domrose, Danbury, and Joe Ca
mella, Lakeside. The fishermen
were from Toledo and Woodville,
Sheriff Merlan Budd reported.
The body of Mrs. Gabriel was
discovered at 7:30 Tuesday morn
ing by a party of negro fishermen
from Toledo. Mrs. Gabriel's body
had been washed ashore one-half
mile east of the u. S. Gypsum
Company plant Identification was
made by her dress and teeth. The
body was bruised from humping
against the shore rocks.
Mr.. Gabriel's body was found
at 9 a. m. Wednesday when Sher-
iff Merlan Budd, a passenger in
the airplane piloted by his bro
ther, Averill Budd, sighted the
body on the sandy beach just east
of the Sandusky Bay bridge.
While their parents were on the
fishing trip, the GabriePs sons,
Gary, IL, and Paul, IL We're at
a movie in Fremont. When their
parents did not return Sunday
evening, the boys phoned Wight
mans Grove to inquire if the Ga
briels were there. Sheriff Ted
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