Distinguished:
William Elmer Hammer page 3
The motor was started out between the city and the lake at 5 a.m. and kept running all day and large crowds of people hung anxiously around the lake shores all day, many watching, but many others assisting and resorting to all forms of expedients to aid in dragging the lake and if possible catch up the missing bodies. All was to no avail until early morning when he body of Miss Pye was drawn up… (Mr. Hammer's body was found later.)…
…Several vague rumors as to the probably cause of the drowning of these two young people were set afloat yesterday as frequently occurs in the excitement surrounding a fatal mystery of this kind, which was heightened by the fact that pistol shooting had been heard on the lake just previous to the time of the catastrophe. But careful inquiry had developed the fact that the shooting was done by fisherman on the lake shore both and after the drowning, and at the time when it can be clearly proven that the young people were in a completely different part of the lake.
The young people were on the best of terms from the long association, and went to their last excursion in the best of spirits. From the fact that one of the oars was found beneath the seat under the capsized boat, it is quite evident that the two voyages had attempted to change seats and in passing each other had upset the boat and fallen into the water, being unable to reach it again or rescue themselves from a watery grave.
The boat drifted ashore soon after in from of the Grand View Hotel and Mr. Hammer's hat not far from it…Next morning, Miss Pye's hat, with her veil on it and a pencil sticking in it, was found under the edge of debris on the lake shore…All these evidences…were conclusive proofs of the sure and accidental drowning of the parties. These conclusions arrived at by the Daily Leader reporter have been confirmed by the corner's inquest…
Dakota State University • All rights Reserved
Completed by Spring 2004 Class of English 401
Last updated Spring 2004