Miami Union

October 12, 1911 

RETTIG, VERNON - The Miami river claimed its second victim for the season at this point Wednesday evening when Vernon Rettig, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Rettig, of East Franklin street, was drowned just below the dam.  The tragic death of the young man followed an evening of pleasure at First Island.  Three young men from the Troy high school, Edgar Connor, 18, James Dowler, 18, and Vernon Rettig had planned an excursion to the island and a picnic supper in honor of three of the teachers, Misses Houser and Carroll and Mr. Charles K. Heeter, the latter being director of physical training and instructor in English.  The trip to the island was made after school was dismissed for the afternoon.  After supper and an enjoyable evening the party started for home about 9:30.  Connor and Rettig walked from the island to the dam while the remainder of the party made the trip in a canoe.  The young ladies went ashore at the dam and, accompanied by James Dowler, walked to the home of Mrs. Grosvenor, about two squares, where they room.  Rettig, Dowler and Heeter then carried the canoe around the boat house and launched it below the dam, intending to paddle down to the Market street bridge where it had been kept.  When the young men launched the canoe below the dam the three got in and paddled out parallel to the dam to mid-stream to get into the current.  About mid-stream they got a little to close to the dam and the undercurrent from the water going over the dam caught the frail boat and drew it back far enough to catch the water coming over.  This immediately capsized the boat and threw the three occupants into the water.  All three of the young men could swim, altho Rettig had learned just this summer and was the least experienced of the three.  At the point where the accident occurred the current was so swift and the undertow so strong that even the hardiest swimmer could not make any headway.  Dowler managed by swimming under water to get out of the current and together with Mr. Heeter, who had inhaled a large quantity of water and came very near drowning, succeeded in getting to shore at the foot of Monroe street.  Here they called for young Rettig until, getting no response, they were satisfied that he had been drowned.  They then went on to the home of Mrs. Grosvenor where they collapsed to the floor after gasping a brief account of the fate of their comrade.  Miss Houser notified Prof. R. L. Baird who in turn called up the police and fire departments.  In a few minutes a large number of people were at the scene of the accident and, assisted by the bright moonlight, a thorough search of the river was made.  Russell Chase and Leonard Dowler, the latter a brother of James, succeeded in finding the overturned canoe beneath the Adams street bridge, but all efforts to locate the body of the unfortunate victim were unavailing, although the search was kept up until almost daylight.  James Dowler is considered the best swimmer of the three who were in the canoe and he escaped in better condition than Mr. Heeter, who was out of his head for some hours after the accident.  Dowler was able to give directions and assist in the effort to locate the body of his companion.  Shortly after day break the search was resumed with pike poles, grappling hooks and the like, but it was not until nearly 10 o'clock that Service Director G. B. Hatfield succeeded in locating and bringing the body to the surface, about two-thirds of the distance from the dam to the Adams street bridge.  A watch in the pocket of the unfortunate young man, had stopped at 9:52, showing conclusively the time of the accident.  Mrs. Rettig, mother of Vernon, was visiting in the country at the time of the accident, while the father, who is an expert millwright, was working at Frankfort, Ky.  News of the sad fate which had overtaken their son was conveyed to them as quickly as possible.  Arrangements for the funeral had not be completed at the time this was printed, but it is certain that memorial services will be held by the high school and these will probably take place next Monday afternoon.  Out of respect to the young man and in consideration of the three teachers who were in the party and of Prof. Baird, who had spent the greater part of the night in the water searching for the body, there was no session of the high school Monday.  It will be remembered that Dan Chase, foreman of the printing department of the Troy Carriage Sunshade company, was drowned at almost the same point in the river on the evening of June 20th, last.  Mr. Chase was fishing just above the dame and had his little daughter in the boat with him, when they were overturned and washed over the dam by the waves of a passing motor boat.  Chase, who was an expert swimmer, struck his head on a rock and was drowned before assistance could be secured.  The daughter was rescued.

Miami Union

October 19, 1911 

RETTIG, VERNON - Sad indeed was the funeral of Vernon Rettig, the young high school student who lost his life in the Miami River, Wednesday night of last week.  The services were held from the residence on East Franklin street at 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon.  Many friends were in attendance and many were the floral tributes sent.  Rev. W. D. Holt, assisted by Rev. C. E. Paulus, officiated.  Interment was made at Riverside.  At high school chapel exercises Monday morning memorial services were held Supt. Cookson and Principal Baird making short talks.

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