Submitted by: Todd Nowicki

Reiter, Decker, Mayfield, Grinstead,

Julius J. Reiter: (South Bend Tribune 6/18/1939)

J.J. REITER DROWNS; PEAK 94 DEGREES

Mercury Drops but Hot Week-End Is Expected.

Ninety-four-degree heat broiled South Bend Saturday and was the indirect cause of the death of Julius J. Reiter, aged 54, of 1034 West Dunham street, who drowned while fishing in Hudson lake, two mile west of New Carlisle, this county.   The 94-degree heat, a record for the season, was recorded three times Saturday afternoon on The South Bend Tribune’s self-recording thermometer. No relief is in sight, according to the weather man, but the temperature fell rapidly Saturday night after beginning to recede during the late afternoon.   Government weather forecasters Saturday night predicted showers for South Bend today and somewhat cooler weather in the extreme northeast section of Indiana with warmer weather in the northwest part of the state.   Fisherman Finds Body   The body of Mr. Reiter was taken from the lake about 6:30 p.m. by Donald L. Decker, 131 East Woodside street. Deputy LaPorte County Coroner Charles E. Mayfield, Wanatah, Ind., said the body had been in the water “about two hours”. A theory was expressed that Mr. Reiter, who was unable to swim, may have been sickened by the intense heat and toppled from his anchored boat while preparing to raise the anchor and put to shore.   A boy found a hat floating on the water near shore and, noting the empty boat at anchor approximately 150 feet from shore, suspected a drowning. The boy conveyed his suspicion to Mr. Decker, who was about to put out on the lake to fish.   Mr. Decker rowed to the vicinity of the empty boat, according to the deputy coroner, and presently sighted the body in about six feet of water. Using his fishing tackle, Mr. Decker snared the body and hauled it into his boat. Artificial resucitation methods were not applied.   Hits Peak Three Times   The body was removed to the Amen funeral home in New Carlisle and subsequently to the Jurek funeral home, 1233 Western avenue.   Surviving the victim are his wife, Agnes, who is seriously ill; eight children, Julius E., Joseph, Irene, Henrietta, Harriett, Esther, Genevieve and Loretta Reiter, all of South Bend; two brothers, Joseph Reiter and Stephen Reiter, both of South Bend, and a sister, Mrs. Martha Grinstead, Indianapolis.   The 94-degree heat in South Bend was registered at noon, again shortly before 1 p.m. after the temperature had dropped a degree, and a third time at 3 p.m. after the temperature had slipped two degrees.   It was a degree warmer than the previous warmest day of the year, June 7. Excessive humidity made the heat oppresive. Only two other days this month had the temperature gone above 90 degrees. That was on June 6 and Friday. Ninety-degree heat was experienced on May 25, 26 and 31.