Death By Drowning Benjamin Harrison Burch 1944  

Sep 13 1944 - Citizen

South Bend FIsherman Drowns in Lake Her On Sunday Afternoon

Benjamin Harrison Burch, 56, of 509 W. Monroe Street South Bend, drowned in Lake Maxinkuckee ay 3:30 p.m. Sunday when his feet became entangled in the anchor rope to his rowboat

Franklin M. Salisbury of Union Mills, who was crossing th alke with his outboard motor, found Mr. Burch floudering in the water and trying to get a hold on his own boat. Unable to extricate him, Salisbury called for helf and with the additional assistance was able to free Burch and take him to the town pier in the boat of Capt. Harrison Rice of Camp Breckenridge, Ky, and former Culverite.

Police, firemen and a doctor worked on the body in an attempt to restore life, but were finally forced to give up when it became apparent that their efforts were in vain.

Mr. and Mrs.Burch were spending the day with the F. O. Neidlinger family of Culver and Mr. and Mrs. Burch had gone out fishing alone. It is believed that he fell out of the boat while throwing out the anchor and was thrown into the water.

Mr. Burch was born in Marshall county and was employed as yard conductor for the New York Central railroad in South Bend, having worked for the railroad for 31 years.

Funerl services will be held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Russell funeral home, 229 West Jefferson street, South Bend, with internment in the Plymouth cemetery.