That Joslin Lake Affair

THAT JOSLIN LAKE AFFAIR.

Tee Story of the Drowning Last Fall is Retold.

The drowning in Joslin lake in this county last fall is recalled by the following from the Adrian Telegram:

Mr. Albert Westphal, formerly a resident of this city, but now living on a farm in Bridgewater township, Washtenaw county, tells of the accident as follows:

He lives within half a mile or so of Joslin lake, a large body of water, similar to Devil's lake, and about six miles from Manchester.

November 10 last, about dusk, he was crossing the lake in a row boat in company with Wm. Sautter, George Glotz and a cousin from Brooklyn, N. Y., named Louis Bischoff. The afternoon had been stormy. Bischoff was a little reckless and standing up in the boat, commenced rocking it. He finally tipped the craft over, on a sand bar in about six feet of water. Then he immediately put out for shore, swimming, the distance being about 35 rods. On either side of the bar was very deep water. Sautter also made up bis miud to swim for it, and succeeded in reaching shore. Westphal stuck to the boat and assisted Goltz, who could do but little in the water. They floated with the wind and soon reached shallow water and subsequently the shore. Westphal, Sautter and Goltz came together on the bank, but Bischoff had entirely disappeared. The alarm was given and the lake was dragged from one end to the other. The work was kept up nearly every day, by from 25 to 50 men until the water was frozen over, but no trace of Bischoff has ever been found.

Bischoff was a young man 21 years of age, an expert swimmer and in the east had gained quite a reputation for his feats of daring in the water. He had on a pair of rubber boots that reached to his hips, and strapped about the waist. It is hardly probable that he reached shore, yet the theory has been advanced that he did, and being humiliated by the fact that he had caused the accident, had skipped out. This theory is not believed by the relatives. The parents in the east have heard nothing of him nor have any of his friends anywhere. It is almost certain that the unfortunate young man's body is caught in the thick growth of weeds in the bottom of the lake.

There was snow on the ground, and ass no tracks could be found, save those the three young men mentioned, it is not probable that be got away.

The party had guns with them, and these were found in six feet of water on a sand bar.