DROWNING AT MINEOLA
ALBERT T. KOCHER AND MISS FRANTZ MEET DEATH,
MISS SHUPP ESCAPED.
4‑5 O, CLOCK WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Albert Kocher went to water his horse after using it and a carriage at the farm where he kept the rig but found the well pump had to be primed and did not have access to padlock to prime it. He decided to take rig to Lake Mineola to water the horse there. On his way he met the two young ladies and probably asked them if they would like to join him. The three set out for the lake. As they approached the east side of the lake, which has a steep embankment the rig rolled into the horses rear legs as they descended the slope. The horse spooked and then bolted into the water.
Then "20‑25 feet in the water we suddenly came to a much greater depth then all three of us floated from the wagon and the horse was submerged" in 7‑8 feet of water. Each person went under three times and all were drowning since "not one of the three of us could swim" The driver of the wagon Albert Kocher (19) drowned and his body did not surface‑it was found the next day using apple hooks as grappling poles. Frantz' body floated to the surface after she drowned and was within a few feet of the survivor (Miss Shupp) who was lucky enough to feel the carriage seat under her foot while struggling in the water. She stood on the seat with the water being at neck level as her two friends drowned before her. Edith Frantz (b‑Jan 30 1894 d‑Oct 27 1909 aged 15 years 8 months and 27 days was given a religious ceremony at the Zion’s church on route 209 near Brodheadsville (church built in 1862) and buried across the street in the Brodheadsville cemetery. Grave is about 20 feet from roadside near center of the cemetery.
Names on Frantz headstone:
JOSIAH FRANTZ‑JUNE 19 1853‑AUG 23 1904
AMANDA E. JULY 8 1854‑MAY 21 1943
EDITH S. JAN 30 1894‑OCT 27 1909
AUGUSTA C. OCT 22 1874‑JULY 5 1933
