Despondent, Ends Life In The Maumee River

"We'll try just once more and don't find him, we'll have to give it up" said Clifford Young to a group of searchers for the body of Romanzo TSteambarge, 76, a widower, who drowned himself in the Maumee river 2 miles east of the Damascus bridge last Friday. This statement was made Saturday evening after a two day task of hunting for the body of the despondent man. And the attempt which was to be the final one at last yielded the corpse, which was heavily weighted by boat anchors and a gunny sack containing huge stones which had bee wired around the victim's body.

About five weeks ago Steambarge buried his wife and he had been extremely despondent ver since. Last week, after leaving his purse and other personal belongings at the home of his daughter Mrs. clifford Young, of Liberty township, he went into town where he talked with Constable George Furney telling him that he was going to the Maumee to end it all.

On Friday morning a farmer near the King farm noticed Steambarge's row boat floating in the river. He investigated the matter, and after getting in touch with the relatives, they recalled his despondent uttering and immediately search for the body was commenced. Friday afternoon through the long hours the hunt for the body was in vain and the workers resumed their labors the following day.

Saturday evening at 8 o'clock a crowd of men which included a son Ralph Steambarge, grand son Melvin Young, son-in-law Clifford Young and Fred Sattler, of Napoleon, found the body and Coroner Boyer was summoned.

The dead man's watch had stopped at 10:15, so it is presumed that he took the fatal plunge at that time Friday morning.

The deceased is a former employee of the The National Supply company, of toledo, who had retired him 5 years ago on a pension. He is survived by his daughters, Mrs. Clifford Young, of Liberty Center, Mrs. Fred Foote, of Bowling Green and son Ralph, of Grand Rapids.

Funeral services were held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the home of his daughter in Liberty township, Rev. Parker officiating.