Mrs. J. M. Bachman committed suicide by drowning in the little Arkansas river at Riverside park
about 1:00 Sunday morning. Night Watchman, Frank Switzer, was going through the Park to his home
north of the river for his usual night lunch when he heard a peculiar splash in the water near the mouth
of the Black Kettle, which is the deepest point in the river. He secured help from Arthur Willm at the
Depot and the two of them saw an object floating near the south bank, opposite the boat landing.
They called the sheriff. Undertaker Cheatum ran his automobile into the Park and by the use of its
headlight, the body was removed from the water. It seems that Mrs. Bachmann had left home early
in the eveniing but her absence was not noticed until about 9 o'clock when a note was found in which was
written in German and could not be read by the children. It was brought in to the father who was working
at his place of business and after reading the contents it became evident something serious was likely
to happen. A search was begun.
Mrs. Bachmann was born Rosina Schmutz in 1860 in Missouri. She married John M. Bachmann in
1881 and born eight children. Two sons and one daughter preceded the mother into the Spirit World.
Family settled one mile east of Halstead in 1882. Survivors: husband; sons, Herman, Walter and George; daughters, Mrs.
G. F. Stein and Lydia; 2 grandchildren; brothers, Edward and George Schmutz; sisters, Mrs. George
Stamm and Mrs. H. B. Buss.
Funeral from the home and the Mennonite Church. Interment in the Halstead Cemetery.
