Submitted by: Todd Nowicki

David Hartwell Reiter: (South Bend Tribune 6/3/1915)  

University Track Star Brings Lad to Surface 45 Minutes After He Slipped From Ladder on Big Pier

 David Reiter, aged 13, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Reiter, of 215 1-2 South Scott street, was drowned in St. Joseph’s lake at Notre Dame, shortly before noon. The body was recovered 45 minutes after the accident and frantic efforts were made to resuscitate the lad, but all efforts failed.   The boy was a member of a company of altar boys of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic church, who were enjoying an outing at the lake. About 11 o’clock, the boys planned to go into the water. Reiter put on his bathing suit and stepped upon a ladder running into the water from the pier.   He just touched the water with his foot, and said to the boys with him: “It’s too cold, I’m not going in today.”   Hardly had he spoken the words than he doubled up and slid into the water, which is about eight feet deep at the point. The boys in the vicinity rushed to the scene and attempted to rescue their companion, but their efforts were in vain. Aid was summoned from the university and about 11:45 o’clock Leslie Yeager, a star member of the Notre Dame track squad brought the body to the surface. It was about 10 feet northwest of the end of the pier.  Dr. Frank J. Powers was summoned. At the same time the city’s pulmotor was hurried to the scene. The physician worked over the lad for an hour, but without success.   Authorities declared it was not impossible that the boy was dead before he struck the water. Heart failure, they declared, might have caused his death.  

David Hartwell Reiter: (South Bend Tribune 6/1915)
Funeral services for David Hartwell Reiter, who was drowned while on an outing at St. Joseph’s lake, Notre Dame, will be held Monday morning at 9 o’clock from St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic church. The lad was an altar boy at St. Patrick’s and his visit to the lake was on the occasion of an outing given the acolytes. Rev. John F. DeGroote, C.S.C., will officiate at the services, and burial will be in Cedar Grove cemetery. The boy is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Reiter, 215 ½ South Scott street, and by his brothers, Joseph Kenneth and Francis Homer. He was born in Cadillac, Mich., on Sept. 27, 1901, and came to South Bend with his parents six years ago.