THIER, BERGER. MARTIN

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, November 02, 2010 at 10:30:28 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, June 25, 1931
Page 5

Death Overtakes Two Marin Fishermen

Tragedy stalled a gay fishing party Sunday at the Petaluma Slough near Lakeville, when two San Rafael fishermen drowned while t heir companion tried to aid them and call help, wind and tide making rescue impossible.

The two men drowned were Joseph Thier, 35, 321 Glen Park avenue, San Rafael, proprietor of a plumbing shop in San Anselmo, and his apprentice, Harry Berger, 22, The third man in the trio was Joseph Barker, 35, also of San Rafael.

As the tragedy has been reconstructed by Sheriff W. B. Sellmer, who led the crew which worked until the following day to recover the bodies, the party started out at 5 a.m. Sunday, and about 9 o’clock the trio began to get hungry and stared to find food. Berger, who had been swimming about a quarter of an hour before, had climbed back into the boat and put his shoes and stockings in the bottom of the vessel.

Barker went to sleep in the bottom of the boat as it drifted. Thier, with his heavy mackinaw and leather coat on, fell in, and Berger went to save him. Barker awoke just in time to see the two men floundering with the boat anchored, Berger having put the weight down in order that he might tow his friend to the skiff. Barker tried desperately to summon aid, and a man nearby was unable to reach the pair because of the wind and tide. It is believed that Their got a death grip on Berger, and the younger man was unable to shake him off, and thus the two drowned.

Later Barker went to Lakeville and notified authorities of the tragedy, and the bodies were recovered Monday afternoon.

A double inquest was held at the John C. Mount funeral parlors in Petaluma Tuesday morning, with Coroner Fred Young of Healdsburg in charge. The jury brought in a verdict of accidental drownings.

Funeral services for Berger, who is survived by his mother, Mrs. Flora Martin, and a brother, Fred Berger, were held this morning at the parlors of Keaton & Dusel, in this city.

Thier was the husband of Blanche Thier and father of Frances, aged 12, Walton, 9, and Blanche, 6. His remains will be sent to Cheyenne, Wyo., where funeral services will be held.