Karl G. Kopp

A second son of Karl Kopp has met with an accident

Just over a year has passed, since we had the sad duty to report the tragic death of the young sawyer Fritz Kopp, and today we must again report about a ghastly accident that has taken place in the same sawmill and affected the same family. The same sort of thing occurred on Wednesday evening last week, about eight o'clock, as Karl G. Kopp and Jakob Russ were finishing up the last work in the sawmill. As Mr. Russ shared with us, the young Kopp bent down to pick up a sawed piece, when the saw caught him from behind between the thigh and knee and threw him a good fifteen feet. The casualty was immediately carried to the house and the doctor called, who declared that the poor youth had almost certainly suffered fatal injuries. The left leg was sawed to the bone in three places and the right foot was cut through lengthwise. only the little toe hung on by a thread; the heel and other four toes were found in the sawmill, the day after the accident. The doctor did not attempt the amputation of the damaged members, since the injured himself didn't want that, and the doctor himself felt that the injured would not be able to survive it.

After unspeakable agony, the injured breathed his last on Friday towards evening.

Karl G. Kopp was the youngest son of Karl Kopp and wife of Highland Township. Despite the fact that he was crippled from childhood, he had always tried to the best of his ability to support his afflicted parents. He took the blame for the accident totally on himself, although he knew not to say so. His remains were laid to rest Sunday in the Lutheran cemetery on the south Ridge, after a funeral service held by Pastor G.M. Zucker.

The pain of the family is hardly imaginable, although it may be allayed somewhat by the heartfelt sympathy [they have] received from all sides. May the sorrowing receive from the highest consoler in all distress, the strength of acceptance!

Translator's note: This was a VERY difficult page, due to content rather than language!! Have seen this type of small sawmill (steam powered), and we used to have a "buzz-saw" on the farm. AND I have a too-vivid imagination.

Arthur and Charles Ward

Drowned while swimming

Arthur and Charles Ward find their death in the Maumee River

On Sunday afternoon about four o'clock, an accident occurred near George Switzer's farm, through which two human lives were abruptly ended. At this place, which lies about five miles above (?upstream of) Defiance, at the aforementioned time, a group of seven young fellows was swimming in the Maumee River, among them the 17 year old Arthur Ward and his two years older brother Charles, sons of William Ward of Noble Township. Both were unskilled in swimming and tired besides, as they had already earlier the same afternoon spent quite a while in the water. The enjoyment of the swimming was ?running high, when suddenly arose a shrill outcry, and Arthur's comrades saw that he, white as chalk from either fear or pain, made a convulsive (?desparate) attempt to reach the shore. In the next instant he sank under, but already his brother Charles was rushing to his rescue, and was actually able to grap the drowning [person] when he came to the surface. Then in his dreadful anxiety Arthur flung both his arms around his rescuer's neck, and in the next second both youths sank into the flood, never to re-appear. The body of the elder ward was recovered an hour later, that of the other drowning victim only at ten o'clock the next morning.

Both bodies were laid to rest on Tuesday afternoon in the Webb cemetery near Brunersburg, under the direction of Pastor Kaley from Defiance.

At the place where the Wards lost their lives, about three years ago three girls drowned at one time, and earlier even more people. At a depth of 15 to 20 feet there must be a current, which can hardly be seen from the surface. Despite this, the youngsters (young people) have a fondness for swimming there. Many people seem to get an especially great thrill from the danger.