Leon Rooks
July 9, 1909-June 7, 1933
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 8, 1933, page 1, col. 6, continued page 7, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Leon Rooks Drowned in Indian Lake Tragedy
Seized With Muscle Cramps
While Retrieving Water Ball;
Myler, Niles Baseball Star,
Attempts to Rescue Friend
Seized with muscle cramps while retrieving a waterball for a couple that could not swim, Leon Rooks, 24, son of A.C. Rooks, proprietor of the Niles Creamery drowned last evening in Indian lake. His wife witnessed the tragedy.
Dorsey Myler, pitcher for the Niles Blues baseball team and employed by the Niles Creamery, attempted to rescue Rooks but became exhausted and had let go of Rooks to save himself. Although Rooks was under water only five minutes and was alive when brought to shore efforts to resusciate[sic] him failed.
The tragedy took place at Forest Beach resort, where Rooks and Myler and their wives had gone to spend the evening. They arrived at 8 o'clock and the drowning occurred a few minutes later. It was the first time this season that Myler had been swimming. Rooks had been swimming Sunday. Accompanying the couple was Miss Margaret Conrad, sister of Mrs. Rooks, and the small half-sister and half-brother of the victim and a small neighbor girl.
Another party of a half dozen persons, including several men, was in the lake in shallow water playing with a big waterball when the Rooks-Myler party of eight arrived. The ball was thrown too high to be caught and it landed about 400 feet out in deep water.
A member of the party playing the ball asked Rooks to retrieve it, as none of the party could swim. An athlete and a strong swimmer, Rooks went after the ball. He was seen to be in trouble immediately after getting hold of the ball. He called for help. Myler swam to the rescue and started helping Rooks to shore. Almost immediately Rooks collapsed and grasped Myler's arm. By the time Myler fought himself free he was exhausted. He managed to reach shallow water and was assisted to shore.
Myler helped to man a rowboat that was brought from a nearby point and pointed out the spot where Rooks went down. A swimmer who had been summoned from a cottage dived from the boat and brought up Rooks on the first try from 10 feet of water.
RESUSCIATION[sic] FAILS
Resusciation[sic] efforts were begun immediately and continued for an hour. Within a short time a pulmotor was brought from a nearby resort and a doctor arrived within a half hour from Dowagiac. The physician stated that the atheltic[sic] muscle rigidity prevented respiratory action being restored. At one time during the hour that the efforts to revive Rooks were continued he appeared to be reviving. Color came into his face for a few moments. After an hour the physician pronounced Rooks beyond help.
Leon Rooks came to Niles when his father bought the creamery from Charles Roskay three and a half years ago, and had been employed by this father. He was born July 9, 1909, at Martin, Mich., but had lived in Holland about 10 years before coming to Niles.
Leon Rooks was married on March 14, 1932, to Mabel Conrad, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Conrad of Sumnerville. She had graduated from Niles high school with the class of 1931, ten months before her marriage. The party had stopped at the Conrad farm while en route to Indian Lake from Niles. Since their marriage the younger Mr. and Mrs. Rooks had resided at 231 North Thirteenth street. A.C. Rooks, his father, resides at 1422 Cedar Street. Mr. and Mrs. Myler reside at 1619 Hickory street.
Surviving, beside the widow, are the father and a step-mother, an elder brother Leslie, the half-sister and half-brother, Lois G. and Lloyd Paul. The body was brought to the Rutherford funeral home in Niles.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 o'clock Saturday in the First Presbyterian church by the Rev. Guy W. Simon. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
The Journal-Era (Berrien Springs, Mich.), Thursday, June 15, 1933, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
Leon Rooks, 24, Niles, drowned in Indian lake last Wednesday night, when he was seized with muscle cramps after retrieving a water ball from deep water for a couple that could not swim. D. Myler, of Niles, attempted to rescue young Rooks but became exhausted and had to let go of Rooks to save himself. Although Rooks was under water but five minutes and was alive when brought to shore efforts to resuscitate him failed. His wife witnessed the tragedy. The drowning victim was a son of A.C. Rooks, proprietor of the Niles Creamery.