Otto-Thieme-59727

Obituary

Dr. Otto Thieme, a well known and much esteemed citizen of German birth , was drowned while bathing in the river last evening. About half past six o'clock , accompanied by two young men, George and Carl Wortlmueller, he went up in a skiff to the sand bar to bathe. The young men did the rowing and Dr. Thieme was the first to go into the water after they reached the vicinity of the bar. They cautioned him not to go in at a certain point where they saw the water was deep and the current swift. But it was too late, for a moment afterward they saw him struggling and heard him crying for help. They at once went to his assistance, one of them at each arm, but soon found they could not make any headway against the current, which was swift and the water deep, but were being rapidly drifted down stream. One of them was drawn under the water, and both be came alarmed for their own safety, and felt compelled, in order to save their own lives, to let the Doctor go. They made their way back as soon as they could to the bar, which took them, as near as they could fudge, some eight or ten minutes, and taking the skiff rowed down quickly to where Dr. Thieme's body was still floating upon the water, two or three hundred yards below. They took it into the skiff and made what effort they could, by rabbing, etc. to bring it back to life, but the vital spark had fled. At. nine o'clock last evening Coroner Haw held an inquest over the body, and a verdict was rendered in accordance with the above facts. Dr. Thieme was about 55 or 60 years of age, and had been a resident of Burlington for some years here. One or two sons still remain in Germany, and one, a lieutenant in the German army, lost his life in the recent war with France. Dr. Thieme was a man of much learning and culture, speaking several languages fluently, being an accomplished teacher of music, and possessing rare scientific attainments. His sudden death shocked his friends and filled many hearts with sadness. We should have mentioned above that he was in rather feeble health, having had a long and severe illness during the spring, from which he had not wholly recovered. But for some weeks past he had been accustomed to go into the river daily to bathe. Dr. Thieme;s funeral will take place this afternoon, at four o'clock. from his late rooms in Bodemann's Block.