Swimming Holes
Spy Run creek, Blue Spot Club - St. Marys River, Elephant Hole, Delta lake, Reservoir lake, Swinney lake, Forest park lagoons, White's Swimming Hole (Maumee River)
Blue Spot Club plaque is across the street from Swinney Park post August 17, 2024 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
1893 - With Cramps - Edmond Galland is Seized and Sinks Watery Grave - old "Blue Spot" - St. Marys Fort Wayne Weekly Journal, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, July 6, 1893, Page 6.
WITH CRAMPS
Edmond Galland is Siezed, and Sinks to a Watery Grave.
He Was Bathing in the St. Marys River at the old "Blue Spot" Swimming Hole.
Edmond Galland, aged sixteen years, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Galland of No. 18. Brandriff street, drowned in the St. Mary's river about 7:30 Friday evening, while in swimming with his younger brother, Leo, aged eleven years. Edmond and Leo left their home about 6:30 and proceeded to the "Blue Spot" swimming hole about one hundred and fifty yards south of the Pittsburg bridge which crosses St. Marys. They Arrived there about 7:30 o'clock and were soon enjoying a swim. Edmond was an expert swimmer, and after driving around for a few minutes swam across to the east shore.
He then rested a few moments and started back. He had not gotten over ten feet from the shore, however, when he uttered a cry as if in great pain. He sank but upon coming to the surface made an attempt to swim but failed and went down again in full view of his younger brother, who was powerless to lend him any assistance whatever as he could not swim.
There were no other boys near and Edmond sank the third time never to arise again until fished out with grappling hook. The younger brother hardly realized what had occurred. There was not soul in sight. He had just started home when an engineer on the Pittsburg road passed along and to him Leo related the story of bis brother's drowning. Word immediately dispatched to the police station and Sergeant Borgman, in company with a JOURNAL reporter, hastened to the scene of the drowning.
Upon arriving there the younger brother was found seated on the bank holding his brother's clothes and crying as if his heart would break. Between sobs related particulars concerning the fatality.
There were no grappling hooks or even boat near at hand but one was finally found some distance down the stream securely fastened to post. It was broken loose and several parties got in and with long poles began sounding the river.
They could not locate the body and finally four boys volunteered to dive for it. Edward Tombaugh, of 84 street, Edward Zimmerman, of 77 Baker street, Ed Bender and George Petgen were the boys.
After diving for some time young Tombaugh located the dead man and with the assistance of Ed Zimmerman succeded in raising it to the surface where it was seized by the men in the boat and brought ashore. Coroner Harrod had previously arrived ordered the body removed to the gravel pits, where the patrol wagon had been ordered. The remains were then taken to Undertaker Peltier's establishment and prepared for burial, after which the body was taken to the family home.
Edmond Galland was a gas fitter by trade and until recently was in the employ of, A. Hattersley & Sons, the East Main street plumbers. He was exceedingly large "for his age and would be taken for a man about twenty three years old. About a week ago he resigned his position and that time has been unemployed.
Not until after the body had been recovered were the sad news broken to his parents. The mother was the only member of the family at home and the task of informing her of her son's sad and fatal end was a sorrowful one to perform. However, she bore up under the strain emarkably well.
Not until nearly 10 o'clock was the father apprised of his son's fatality. Mr. Galland is a sweeper in the Pittsburg shops and is well known to the shop boys. No arrangements have been made for the young man's funeral as yet.
1893 - Drowned - Alfred Zucker Meets His Fate in Maumee - Seized With Cramps He Sinks - Corpse
Article from Jul 6, 1893 Fort Wayne Weekly Journal (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1893, Alfred zucker, Maumee, Cramps, Drowns
1893 - Drowned - Alfred Zucker Meets His Fate in Maumee - Seized With Cramps He Sinks - CorpseFort Wayne Weekly Journal, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, July 6, 1893, Page 6.
DROWNED. Alfred Zucker
Meets His Fate in the Maumee.
Siezed With Cramps He Sinks and is Taken Out a Corpse.
Brave Efforts of His Chum to Save Him at the Peril of His Own Life -The Dead Boy's Mother is In Mid Ocean.
Again we are called upon to chronicle the fate for a young man who met his death Saturday while bathing in the Maumee river. The fate of Edward Galland, who met his death in the same manner. is yet fresh in the minds of the people.
This time the victim is Alfred Zucker, aged fifteen years, son of Prof. Frederic Zucker, of Concordia college. About 5:30 o'clock last evening while in bathing with his college mate, Joseph Timkan, he was seized with and slowly sank to the bed of the river.
The particulars concerning the sad fatality are as follows: Shortly before 5 o'clock last evening Alfred and his chum, Joseph Timkan of Paola, Kas., who was a student in the Concordia college, were playing ball on the campus when they decided to go bathing and started for the White swimming hole, some distance up the Maumee river back of the site of the old wheel factory. On their way they were joined by a lad named Jessie Campbell and another boy. Upon arriving at the swimming hole they divested themselves of their clothing and jumped in. Joe Timkan was an expert swimmer and as young Zucker was also at home in the water, the two started to swim across the stream, distance of about seventy five yards.
Before they started, however, they decided to lend their assistance to each other should any incident befall either of them. They had About reached the northern bank with Timkan in the lead, when he heard his partner cry. "Oh, Joe, help me." Turning about he saw young Zucker struggling in the water. He swam to his assistance when the drowning boy grabbed him by the wrist with a death like grip.
The two then went down together and as they come up Tinkan saw that unless he released his hold he too would meet his fate. Accordingly after much difficulty he released the arm grasp and Zucker sank, but as he went down he again grabbed Tinkan by the leg. Mr. Tinken tried to swim ashore and drag the drowning young man with him, but he had grown so weak that he could not keep above water with such a weight on his feet. He released the young man's hold again, and when the body arose for the last time he made a last strenuous effort to save him. He grabbed Alfred by the hair of the head and started to swim for shore, but he was too weak to keep up the strokes and was compelled to release him or he too, would have drowned.
Zucker sank and was seen to arise no more. "Jesse Campbell hastened to the residence of Dr. Duemling, at 441 East Washington street, and notified him of the drowning of the young man. Enno Duemling the doctor's oldest son, was hastened to the home of the drowned boy. No. 49 Walter street, where Prof. Zuoker informed of his son's sad and sudden fate.
It required but a short time for the news to spread, and in thirty minutes several hundred people had gathered on the banks of the river. Boats and grappling hooks were secured and the work of dragging the river for the body proceeded. At 7:55 Henry Streetmatter who, in company with George Dustman and Henry Castle, occupied a boat, succeded in hooking the body in the wrist and sowed it to shore, where Coroner Harrod viewed the remains, after which they were taken in charge by Undertakers Scheumann & Klaehn and removed to the family home.
Alfred was the second oldest of nine children and was the oldest boy. He had attended Concordia college for four years, and this year passed into the junior class, his standing being among the highest. He was a favorite among his class, especially on the base ball field where he was considered one of the best payers. He known to his Bubby classmates as T, a nickname which was given him some years ago.
SAD NEWS FOR HIS MOTHER.
Mrs. Zucker, the young man's mother, is now crossing the ocean and will arrive in Liverpool this evening, having sailed from New York some weeks ago en route to Singapore, India, on a visit to her mother who is a misstonary. A cablegram has been sent her which she will receive upon landing at Liverpool. She is accompanied by the "Youngest child, a mere babe. Mrs. Zucker had intended sailing some months since but on account of her babies illness was compelled to postpone the visit until the little one recovered.
The news of Alfred's drowning will be a sad stroke to the mother who is many thousand miles from home and, of course, cannot attend the füneral.
1902 - Brave Lad Fails in Attempt to Rescue His Drowning Brother - "White's Swimming Hole" The Fort Wayne Journal, Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, June 8, 1902, Page 1.
BRAVE LAD FAILS IN ATTEMPT TO RESCUE HIS DROWNING BROTHER.
Plunges Bravely Into Swollen Stream and Joins in Unequal Battle With Surging Waters in Which He is Vauquished.
Mearl. Clark, the eleven-year-old son of Mrs. Dr. J. E. McHugh, of 2214 Thomas street, was drowned in the Maumee river yesterday afternoon after Marvin Clark, a brother, three years older had made a heroic effort to save him.
The body was recovered last night by the police department and Dr. W. W. aBrnett, the coroner, was called. Young Clark in company with his twin brother and several companions about the same age went to what is known as "White's swimming hole," but the stream was swollen to twice its normal condition and the others of the party were afraid to venture in the water. The drowned boy, however, quickly stripped and in spite of the protests of his playmates plunged into the stream.
He swam about for some time but finally got beyond his depth and yelled for help. The older brother arrived on the bank about this time and seeing the peril of the drowning lad hurriedly divested himself of his clothes and boldly struck out to the rescue.
He succeeded in reaching his brother and for a time they struggled in the swift current. Once both disappeared beneath the surface, reappeared a short distance down the stream still fighting bravely against the angry waters, their strength began to wane, the hold of the older brother relaxed and the younger lad disappeared.
Marvin Clark then swam ashore and gave the alarm. Notice was sent to police headquarters and the boat and grappling hooks were sent to the scene of the accident. All afternoon the stream was dragged but the body could not be located.
1915 - Along the Rivers in Fort Wayne in Summer Time - swimming holes Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, June 26, 1915, Page 8.
ALONG THE RIVERS IN FORT WAYNE IN SUMMER TIME
FISHING IN THE MAUMEE, THE SUNFLOWER CLUB, ST JOE THE FISHERMAN, THE - OLD CANAL
What is Fort Wayne's very best little summer resort?
Fling that question into the city streets and the responses will be as various as favorite movie stars.
Messrs. Williams (Manager and Henry M.) shout Lake Everett and Robison park in gentlemanly discord, Rome City is proclaimed by its thousands, and Clear lake, Lake James, Wawasee, the Michigan resorts and the mountains and the seacoast all have their admirers.
But of Fort Wayne's 83,251 inhabitants, just about eighty thousand spend the summer in the same place. Fort Wayne is their summer resort.
Nor is it such a bad one at that. Of course there is no noticeably frigid weather here in July, there is no lake of any consequence to drown in, the river fish are not so hard to carry home--but anyway, it isn't so bad.
There are few inland cities so well located for summer living. Fort Wayne with its three rivers, with Spy Run creek, with a score of natural beauty spots, would make a summer resort the like of which northern Indiana and southern Michigan do not possess.
Some Take Advantage.
It is a very small per cent of the population of the city that takes advantage of the opportumties offered by the rivers. True, there are a good many Sunday picnies along the banks, but as to permanent cottages or even camps, they are very few.
The Sunflower club, a little yellow building on stilts on the south bank of the Maumee several miles below the city, is one of Fort Wayne's summer resort clubs. It stands in a grove almost on the river bank, and a little spring runs away to the east of it.
Although it still is boarded and shuttered, within a week or so it will open for the summer, and each Sunday till fall will see crowds of members and their families enjoying one of Allen county's beautiful river bank groves.
But the Sunflower club is not the only one of Fort Wayne's summer club houses, for there are a number up the St. Joe river. Above Robison park several miles, along the high east bank of the St. Joe river, are grouped a number-probably a half a dozen buildings. Several of them are club houses, and the others are the cottages of people who go up the river to fish, not only from Fort Wayne, but from other northern Indiana towns as well.
The river affords pleasure for two canoe clubs here, for at the park are two organizations, with a dozen or more canoes each, quartered in comfortable boat houses.
These canoe clubs have become very proficient in boat drills and their work on the river at the park has become a feature of the entertainment there.
The River Fishing.
But the vast majority of the persons who enjoy the rivers own no cottages nor do they belong to the scattered river clubs. They are the fishermen and picnickers who every day line the banks of the river not only in the country near the city, but here within the city limits as well. One standing on the Lakeside bridge Satuday morning and looking north, would have seen the Lakeside bank with a dozen fishermen scattered along it, and two men in a pair of greenish gray boats paddling up the St. Joe. Sitting boats, now famous Foster piling gray along the St. Mary's, two or three boys cool their heels and ankles, and at the junction of the rivers a group of swimers spoiled whatever chances the fishermen had anticipated.
All the way up the river fishermen are found and when one passes the city limits signs of camp fires are frequent. It is up the St. Mary's and St. Joe the real fishermen go, several miles about the city, there to spend the week-end in studious contemplation of the forces of nature and the scarcity of bass.
True, some men seem to be born with silver trolling spoons in their mouths, for one will see them come in from the Maumee, or either of the other rivers with regular strings of regular fish. For verification of this statement stand any morning at Columbia and Barr and watch Officer Harry Birely tug a string homeward.
One morning last week fifteen boys sat on fifteen of bank on Spy Run creek, and fished for the little sunfish that every now and then came up after hundred feet below the Lawton park after then hooks.
Each Sunday, too, finds the river banks in the parks crowded with picnickers, and it is estimated that in the course of a Sunday twenty thousand people visit local parks in the summer.
The Simming Hole
Fort Wayne, may she have everything else except the puces and mosquitoes make perfectly good summering place, sadly lacks swimming pools. Do you realize that in all Fort Wayne there is not single public swimming pool. There is a small pool in a local bath house, but it is not large enough to deserve the name.
The city officials on Friday afternoon Wayne's went over the of the proposed swimming pool in Spy Run creek, and decided that the dam be built several hundred feet below the Lawton park bridge. This will give a pool of considerable lenght and depthn, and for the first time Fort Wayne will have an opportunity to go swimming right.
Of course there is swimming in the old canal be and each day in summer scores of boys walk a mile and half east of town to frolic in the 200 foot expanse of green water. The water isn't cooling, and it doesn't smell very encouraging even at a distance, and it's rather thick, but just the same it's wet.
So Fort Wayne is a summer resort after all. Swimming, canoeing, fishing, picnicking, fighting mosquitoes, they are all here, as a part and parcel of Fort Waynes, summer pleasure.
So what's the use of going to Newport this year and northern Michigan? Bah!
1916 - Private Opinions about Board of Health - veto swimming old Blue Spot - Elephant Hole The Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, July 8, 1916, Page 16.
How About It?
To the Editor of the News: Now that the board of health has put a veto on swimming in Spy Run creek, what is that august body going to about the old Blue Spot, the Elephant Hole and the other places that were favorite resorts when we were youngsters? Having started out to take all possible joy out of the boys lives, the board might as well go the entire trip. The boys cannot swim in Delta lake or Reservoir lake because some of the highly cultured residents of those neighborhoods are horrifed at the sight of a boy garbed in nothing but trunks and a bathing shirt; Spy Run creek is labeled as unhealthful; Swinney park lake. is, not deep enough; there is no water in Forest park lagoons. Altogether a real, live boy has a mighty difficult time enjoying himself these days. AQUEDUCT.
