OHIO STATE JOURNAL, Friday, 12 Jan 1894, page 3 NOTE: The drowning victim was actually ANTON WERNER, 10 Apr 1831-10 Jan 1894. A WATERY GRAVE Seems to Have Been the Fate of Andrew [Sic.] Werner While Fishing in Alum Creek Wednesday-- A Fruitless Search for the Body. Lewis Werner, a workman in the Columbus buggy-works, with his brother, F. F. Werner, and brother-in-law, O. I. Jasper, called at police headquarters and reported to Chief Mahoney that they feared their father, Andrew [Anton] Werner, of 441 South Sixth street, had been drowned. They stated he had started out Wednesday on a little fishing excur- sion, as he had often done before, and did not return Wednesday night. Nothing strange was thought of that as he very often remained over night on these trips. But when he failed to make his appearance at dinner yesterday the family became uneasy and a search was instituted for him which resulted in finding his fishing line, overcoat, hat and lunch bag on Alum creek, about two miles outside the city limits and near what is known as the Alum creek bridge. Over these things his dog was keeping watch. After some time spent in unavailing search the anxious sons hastened back to town and laid the case be- fore Chief Mahoney, who immediately consulted Superintendent Pagels. It was decided to send patrol No. 2 with Chief Mahoney, Detective Grandstaff, Officer Owens and others to the scene equipped for searching the waters of the creek for the body. The party started at 6 o'clock, but returned a short time later, having conclud- ed that it was unsafe to prosecute the search last night, owing to the condition of the ground along the creek, which was perforated with muskrat holes and otherwise treacher- ous. The search will be prosecuted today by patrol No. 2, beginning at 8 o'clock. The family relations of Mr. Werner are stated by his sons to be of the most pleasant character, and they state he was unusually cheerful all day Wednesday, so that the only conclusion that seems tenable is that as the bank where his effects were found was about fifteen feet high and very steep, he must have slipped, lost his balance and fallen into the water. ------------------------------------- OHIO STATE JOURNAL, Saturday, 13 Jan 1894, page 4 ACCIDENTAL DROWNING. Body of Andrew [Sic.] Werner Found in Alum Creek. The body of Andrew [Anton] Werner, whose case was mentioned in yesterday's issue, was found in Alum creek yesterday morning about 100 feet below where he was supposed to have fallen in and about 20 feet from the bank in 12 feet of water. Patrol wagon No. 2, man- ned by Chief of Detectives Mahoney, Officers Baker and Owens and Wagon Officer Hamer, and with a boat aboard, was driven to the scene about 9 o'clock yesterday morning, and after about 30 minutes' search with the grappling hooks Officers Baker and Owens caught the body and it was towed ashore. The body was taken to the family residence, No 441 South Sixth street. The coroner was notified and began an inquest yesterday afternoon. The facts elicited are about as published in the STATE JOURNAL yesterday, except that on Thursday the hat was found floating on the water by a little boy, who fished it out and threw it on the bank where the drowning occurred. A wife and several children are left, two of the latter living at home and unmarried. The inquest showed that the family life was very happy and peaceful, but that Mr. Werner was subject to fainting spells, in one of which he fell into the water once before when on a fishing excursion with his son and was rescued with considerable difficulty. The coron- er's verdict is death by accidental drowning. Transcribed by Leona L. Gustafson