grave import

Obituary

In this connection a brief sketch of the young man's life will be interesting; Willam C. Zimmerman, was born at New Giarus, Greene county Wisconsin, on the 12th day of February, 1858. in 1864, his parents came to Burlington, there being four sons in the family at that time. At an early age he attended the German American school under the direction of the German Evangelical Zion church, of which his father is pastor. Afterward he was a pupil in the high school of this city for three years. At the age of fifteen years he accepted a situation in the Merchants' National bank of the city as teller. He was thoroughly acquainted with the details of the banking business, and was not only highly respected by the officers, but his services were appreciated and valued. He remained in the bank until his death.

About five o'clock last evening the levee was the scene of the wildest excitement and confusion. Our citizens were shocked to hear that Will C. Zimmerman, son of Rev. John Zimmerman, pastor of the Evangelical Zion church, had been drowned while exercising in a boat on the river fronting the city. The shock was so sudden that his friends could hardly realize that the sad tidings were true. People rushed to the river bank, only to find crowds of men clustered here and there, whose countenances plainly told that some sad catastrophe had occurred which had cast a gloom over the multitude present, and the solemn whisperings suggested that the messenger of death had laid its icy fingers on some friend near and dear to many who were watching the river as if expecting to see it give up its dead. Death had visited our community again, and this time took from our number a young man who had only crossed the threshold of manhood, and who had a bright and pleasant future before him-a young man who would have been a light in the world. There were a number who saw the accident and we give the accounts as we hear them. Mr. Zimmerman, who is a member of the boating association, is in the practice of exercising every evening. Last evening he went to the boat house and prepared to take a pull in the "worker: a small boat, or half shell, used "by the members while exercising. He was not a swimmer, and it is something peculiar why he should choose this boat, one of the most dangerous to handle in the house, when practicing. After seating himself in the boat he took a turn on the river, guiding the boat with the ease and skill that marked everything he did. When he was opposite the sewer a skiff belonging to the raft boat Dexter was pulled out into the stream by one of the hands, who was in a hurry to reach the steamer and carelessly hit the shell in which Zimmerman was seated, but did not upset it, and he pulled back to the boat-house, where the shell was examined and found to be uninjured. Will again entered the boat, and, dipping the oars into the waves so soon to envelope his form, sent it skipping up the river. Everything worked as smoothly as usual until he reached a point opposite Washington street, between where "the ferry John Taylor and the steamer Petrel lay. Here the boat suddenly upset and Will was plunged into the river. He was seen to catch the shell once, but lost his hold and suddenly sank beneath the surface. Several of the boating boys were on the river at the time, but some distance below, and could not reach him in time to be of any assistance. Several different stories are told concerning the accident, but the following told us by Mr. Bailey, a man who is familiar with the river, and who made a gallant effort to save Mr. Zimmerman is, we believe, nearly the facts concerning the accident. Mr. Bailey says that when Zimmerman was at the point above stated, and about eighty yards from the shore, the right oar, on the side near the shore, got caught in the oar lock in some manner, and the current pressing on the oar caused the shell to dip water. Mr. Zimmerman, who was a new beginner, and rather inexperienced in the manage of the boat under all circumstances, raised up in the boat when it immediately upset. Will made an attempt to regain the boat, but it drifted away from him. As soon as Mr. Baily saw that Zimmerman was in danger he made an effort ot get a skiff loose, and succeeded in doing so after running a short distance and getting a pair of oars and breaking the chain that fastened the boat. he managed to get within twenty feet of the drowning man when he sank the last time. There was another party in a boat, accompanied by a lady, but a short distance from the point where Zimmerman capsized, but the fellow was inexperienced, and so frightened when he realized the young man's danger, that he was powerless to render any aid, Mr. Bailey recover the "worker" and it is now in the boat house. The members of the boat club, who deeply feel the loss of so worthy and honorable a member, were soon out in their boats putting forth every effort to recover the lifeless body of their highly esteemed companion, but up to the present writing their efforts have been without avail. Will C. Zimmerman is a son of Rev. John Zimmerman, of this city, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was aged twenty two years, and a young man of unusual promise. For the past five years he has been a book-keeper in the Merchant;s national bank of this city were his services were highly valued as he was thoroughly acquainted with all the banking business and could attend to any of the duties from the president's down. He was a young man of exceptionable good habits, trustworthy and faithful. The members of the bank express deep and sincere regret for his loss and deeply sympathize with the grief stricken parents. The heart broken parents have the heart-felt sympathy of the entire community in this hour of sadness. Hardly has the mother's tears ceased to flow for a son who departed for a better world only a short time since, and no her-oldest boy, a young man who twenty0four hours ago started from home in good health and cheerful smile-a son whom a parent might well be proud-has answered the call of Him who does all things for the best.