Woman on Verge of Insanity Following Drowning in Surf

By Camden NJ History
· Updated · 3 min read · News Articles
Front-page article on Rudolph Romberg's drowning at Sea Isle City and his wife's collapse, Camden Daily Courier, 1910.
Camden Daily Courier, August 22, 1910
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WOMAN ON VERGE OF INSANITY FOLLOWING DROWNING IN SURF Rudolph Romberg, of Park Boulevard, and Brother-in-Law Killed at Sea Isle City WIFE OF VICTIM CLOSELY WATCHED BY PHYSICIANS Physicians and sisters of charity are closely watching Mrs. Rudolph Romberg, of 1316 Park Boulevard, whose mind, it is believed, was affected following the drowning of her husband and brother in the surf at Sea Isle City, yesterday afternoon. The bereaved woman is in the home of the Dominican Sisters and continually asks that her husband be brought to her. She sobs continually over her two months old baby and the fear is present among those who watch her, that the tragedy has affected her mind. The drowning of the two men was particularly sad. Mrs. Romberg was watching the efforts of physicians and life guards to recuscitate Prof. Charles Cook, of Howard University, a Washington, one of the best known colored institutions in the country, who had been caught in an eddy and drowned, despite the fact that he was a powerful swimmer, when word was received that another drowning had taken place three squares below. With hundreds of others, Mrs. Romberg, ran down to Loretta avenue to find that the body washed ashore was that of her husband who had been stricken with heart disease while in the surf. While the crowd on the beach was given its attention to Mr. Romberg, another body was seen floating in the surf. This proved to be the body of Walter Lechtner, 22 years old, a brother-in-law of Romberg's, the two having gone in bathing together. Two physicians and the life saving crews under Captains Cole and Hall worked an hour over Lechtner without avail. (Continued on Tenth Page.) WOMAN INSANE (Continued from First Page). When Mrs. Romberg was told that the last body was that of her brother, she seemed dazed for the moment and then asked for her babe. She seemed to think of nothing else and as she was led to the home of the Sister of Charity she cried continually for the child and was not quieted until the infant was placed in her arms. The theory of the deaths of Romberg and Lechtner is that the younger man got beyond his depth and called for help. Romberg, who was in water only to his knees, is believed to have made an effort to rescue the other, the excitement bringing on the shock that killed him. Mrs. Romberg and her child have been here for some time and Mr. Romberg and his brother-in-law had come down to spend Sunday. Mr. Lechtner had only been in this country two months on a visit and had intended to return to his home in Germany within a week. These drownings were the first among bathers there in eight years, and the total is more than have met death in the surf in the history of the resort.

Rudolph Romberg, of Park Boulevard, and Brother-in-Law Killed at Sea Isle City

WIFE OF VICTIM CLOSELY WATCHED BY PHYSICIANS

Physicians and sisters of charity are closely watching Mrs. Rudolph Romberg, of 1316 Park Boulevard, whose mind, it is believed, was affected following the drowning of her husband and brother in the surf at Sea Isle City, yesterday afternoon.

The bereaved woman is in the home of the Dominican Sisters and continually asks that her husband be brought to her. She sobs continually over her two months old baby and the fear is present among those who watch her, that the tragedy has affected her mind.

The drowning of the two men was particularly sad. Mrs. Romberg was watching the efforts of physicians and life guards to recuscitate [sic] Prof. Charles Cook, of Howard University, a [sic] Washington, one of the best known colored institutions in the country, who had been caught in an eddy and drowned, despite the fact that he was a powerful swimmer, when word was received that another drowning had taken place three squares below.

With hundreds of others, Mrs. Romberg, ran down to Loretta avenue to find that the body washed ashore was that of her husband who had been stricken with heart disease while in the surf.

While the crowd on the beach was given its attention to Mr. Romberg, another body was seen floating in the surf. This proved to be the body of Walter Lechtner, 22 years old, a brother-in-law of Romberg's, the two having gone in bathing together. Two physicians and the life saving crews under Captains Cole and Hall worked an hour over Lechtner without avail.

(Continued on Tenth Page.)

WOMAN INSANE

(Continued from First Page).

When Mrs. Romberg was told that the last body was that of her brother, she seemed dazed for the moment and then asked for her babe. She seemed to think of nothing else and as she was led to the home of the Sister of Charity she cried continually for the child and was not quieted until the infant was placed in her arms.

The theory of the deaths of Romberg and Lechtner is that the younger man got beyond his depth and called for help. Romberg, who was in water only to his knees, is believed to have made an effort to rescue the other, the excitement bringing on the shock that killed him.

Mrs. Romberg and her child have been here for some time and Mr. Romberg and his brother-in-law had come down to spend Sunday. Mr. Lechtner had only been in this country two months on a visit and had intended to return to his home in Germany within a week.

These drownings were the first among bathers there in eight years, and the total is more than have met death in the surf in the history of the resort.

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