From Rick Berkheiser

"Mishawaka Enterprise", Mishawaka, St. Joseph County, Indiana, Friday Evening, August 24, 1883, page 3

DROWNED IN THE RIVER
Sad Fate of Charlie Berkheiser.
     The sudden tapping of the fire bell last Sunday afternoon caused a thrill of excitement to run through the town, which was not allayed when it was learned that the alarm was sounded to announce the drowning of a boy in the river.  The victim proved to be Charles Berkheiser, a lad aged 12 years and 21 days, son of Mr. Abraham Berkheiser.  He had gone in swimming with the two sons of Mr. Wommer at the sand-bar about a mile and a half up the river.  There is a very deep hole just below this bar, into which the poor boy got beyond his depth and was drowned, being unable to swim.  His companions were, of course, greatly frightened, and scarcely knew what to do.  Finally they left a little brother of the drowned boy to watch on the bank while they ran home to tell their father.  Had they ran at once to the nearest residences the boy might have been taken out quicker, but they were too much alarmed to realize what was best under the circumstances.  It took some time for search parties to get to the spot, and it was fully an hour after the castastophe before Ezra Hopkins and Jake Noel discovered the body and recovered it by diving.  All efforts at resuscitation were of course futile, and the body was taken home to sorrowing and almost distracted parents, who had scarcely missed him from their presence abd who were terribly shocked by the calamity.
     An inquest was had the following day by Coroner Myers, of South Bend, who rendered a verdict of accidental drowning.
     The funeral was held Monday afternoon, at the German Evangelical church, Rev. Mr. Fox officiating.  It was largely attended, the Boys' Branch of the Y. M. C. A., to which the deceased had belonged, being out in a body, and six of the number acting as pall bearers.
     The family of the deceased have the full sympathy of the community in their affliction.

"The South Bend Weekly Tribune", Saturday, August 25, 1883, page 7

A Sunday Drowning at Mishawaka.

     Charles Berkheiser, aged 12 years, son of Abraham Berkheiser, of Mishawaka, was drowned Sunday while bathing in the river about a half a mile above the town.  The lad went out on a sand bar which for quite a distance makes a gradual descent from the shore,  then abruptly stops, forming a very deep hole in the stream, and not understanding the treacherous nature of the bar he walked off into the deep water.  Being unable to swim he soon went to the bottom.  Two boys by the name of Wommer, about Charlie's age, were his only companions, and neither of them being able to swim they could render him no assistance.  They gave the alarm as quickly as possible, however, and friends of the unfortunate lad were soon on the spot.  The body was not secured until it had been in the water about half an hour.  Every effort was made to resuscitate life, but without avail.  Charlie was a bright little fellow, and the family are nearly distracted over his untimely death.  This is the St. Joe's first victim of accidental drowning in this vicinity the present season.