Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 - 1954) Tuesday 20 December 192188353

Man Drowned in Dam

FATALITY AT BUNDALEER SPRINGS.

A drowning fatality occurred at Bun-
daleer Springs), 12 miles from Jamestown
on Saturday afternoon. Mr.  
Charles Frederick Gerke aged 41 years,
was the victim.
Dr. Wells went out with Constable
Hilton, who collected evidence.
Mr. M. Lamner, an employe of Gerke
Bros., said the deceased, Mr. Allan  
Munro, and himself went into Mr.    
Wehrmann's dam for a swim; Mr.  
Gerke was in his usual health. He
swam twice into the middle of the dam.
Then he threw up his arms saying, "I
am standing on the bottom." He came  
to the surface and went down a second  
time. The witness grasped, but could
not hold him as he was too heavy and
Mr. Gerke sank a third time. He did
not rise to the surface again. The
witness tried to get the deceased out of
the water, but he was unable to do
so till help came.
Mr. Allan Munro, of Bundaleer
Springs, made a corroborative state
ment.      
Dr. W. V. Wells, to whom the matter
was reported, considered an inquest  
unnecessary.    
The funeral took place on Sunday
afternoon, when some 40 vehiles  
followed the remains to the Jamestown
Cemetery. Mr. Gerke, who was a gard-
ener, was highly respected and great
regret has been expressed at his un-
timely end.