Storm claimed Mrs. Miller’s life endangered others

Saturday, July 15, 1933 Rochester Sentinel --- A high wid [wind] that struck Lake Maxinkuckee at 6:45 p.m. Frday [Friday], claimed the life of Mrs. Lucia C. MILLER, aged 52, wife of Arthur E. MILLER, local insurance agent and realtor. Mr. and Mrs. Miller reside at 128 West Thirteenth Street. The storm which claimed Mrs. Miller’s life endangered the lives of other members of her family and a large number of fishermen who were on the lake at the time.

Mr. and Mrs Miler [Miller] had driven to the lake to spend the evening with their sons, Arthur [MILLER], aged 13, and Robert [MILLER], aged 12, and Lawrence BROWN, aged 11, son of Attorney and Mrs Selden J. BROWN. The three lads had been staying in a shack on the south side of Lake Maxinkuckee for the past week.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller and the three boys were in a rowboat propelled by an outboard motor when the storm broke Mr. Miller saw the storm approaching and had started for the shore when a large wave struck the boat Had the occupants of the boat had two minutes longer they would have been able to reach the shore in safety. The boat at the time the wave struck it was about a quarter of a mile from shore. The water at this point is only eight feet deep.

The wave which struck the boat partially filled it with water Only the brow of the boat stayed above the water. When the occupants of the boat were thrown into the water, Robert Miller grabbed his father and held his head above the water. Mrs. Miller foundered in the water and sank before her son, Arthur, was able to reach her However, he dove into the water and brought his mother to the surface, holding her head above the water until a boat from Culver Military Academy reached the Miller boat.

The members of the Miller family and the Brown boy were taken to the Culver Military Academy Hospital. Expert life savers stationed at the academy worked over the body of Mrs. Miller with the aid oif [of] a p ulmotor for over four hours. Death, according to Coroner Harry DANIELSON of Plymouth, was due to a heart attack. No water was found in her lungs.

Coroner Danielson stated that Mrs. Miller probably suffered the heart attack as soon as she was thrown into the water. This theory is given credence as the others who were thrown into the water state that Mrs Miller never said a word after the boat was swamped. Mrs Miller’s face and body were bady [badly] bruised due to the pounding which she experienced by the high waves and from coming in contact with the side of the boat.

The two Miller youths are badly bruised as is the Brown boy. Mr. Miller is suffering greatly from exhaustion and shock. His right side was badly bruised due to his being battered against the side of the boat by the waves. He was first given treatment at the hospital at Culver and late last night was removed to his home in this city where he was placed under the care of a physician.

In an interview early Saturday with a representative of the Culver Citizen, regarding the tragedy which claimed the life of Mrs. Artie Miller Friday eveing [evening] on Lake Maxinkuckee, he stated that the storm which lashed the lake, was unquestionably the worst in the history of that resort. The storm came up at 6:45 and lasted for half an hour.

A group of some 25 to 30 fishng [fishing] boats each loaded with from two to five persons were located in the south center of the lake when the terrific windstorm broke in less than a minute’s warning. Several oarsmen attempted to head into the storm for the Walker landing located on the southwest shore of the lake, but the impetus of the wind and the high running waves made such efforts futile.

In changing their course to run with the waves toward the east shore approximately ten boats were caught sidewise in the troughs of the waves and the occupants were upset in the churning waves which were running six to eight feet high. Culver military officers sensing the dangerous situation ordered six of their large launches to the scene and the foundering fishermen were taken aboard while their up-turned boats were washed ashore on the southwestern edge of the lake.

Several Rochester fishermen who were on the lake at the time succeeded in riding their boats safely through to the east shore of the lake.

Some others from Rocheser [Rochester] who were caught im [in] the storm are Charles BAILEY, Louis NINIOS, Percy SMITH, Lisle KRIEGHBAUM, Rev. T. L. STOVALL and Nola RICHARDSON and Harold WILLIAMS both of Indianapolis who are visiting here at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George BUTLER.

Mrs. Miller was born on a farm in Richland township on October 8, 1880. Her parents were Isaac and Rebecca (DILLON) BABCOCK. Mrs. Miller had resided in this county all her lifetime. She was a very prominent member of the Baptist Church and the Eastern Star and Rebekah lodges. She was also the president of the Lincoln School Parent-Teachers Association

Survivors are the husband, two sons, Arthur [MILLER] and Robert [MILLER], daughter, Mrs [C] Fred [Miriam R MILLER] MITCHELL, all of this city; two brothers, Ray BABCOCK, F ulton, and Perry BABCOCK, Mesick, Michigan. A brother, Andrew BABCOCK, and a sister, Mrs. Ora CLARK, preceded her in death.

The funeral services will be held from the Baptist Church at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon. Rev. James NIVEN of Bedford, will be in charge, assisted by Rev. J.B. GLEASON. Burial will be made in the Odd Fellows cemetery.

Culver Citizen
19 Jul . 1933
The largest waves seen on Lake Maxinkuckee (according to the oldest lakesman) claimed the life of Luessl C. Miller, 52. when a sudden windstorm hit the area creating six to 10 foot waves and turning over at least 10 fishing boats. Mrs. Miller, of Rochester, was in a boat on the southeast corner with husband and two sons when their boat was overturned. SHe died of a heart attack after going under at least once.

Culver Storm

Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue History & Genealogy Culver, Marshall, Indiana

Storm claimed Mrs. Miller’s life endangered others