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Joseph Petro

Joseph Petro Meets Death While Bathing in Stream

Derived from Watertown Daily Times, 07 27 1907

Joseph Petro was accidentally drowned in the Rock River at the Rough and Ready Dam, and within a few yards of his home. He was in the city in the afternoon and left for home at about 5 p.m.

When he reached the dam he decided to take a swim and entered the river from the east shore. R. C. Kessler, who was bathing at the time, warned him of the danger of getting too near the dam and assisted him out of danger in one instance, but Petro returned to the water and, before realizing his danger, was drawn by the current to the crest of the dam and carried over it, striking the rocks below. As his eye sight was poor, he probably did not realize his danger until too late.

Eyewitnesses stated that the body, after going over the dam, remained in the swirling waters for 10 minutes and was thrashed about by the tumbling force and became bruised by repeated contact with the sharp rocks. The body then drifted down the river and was recovered about 100 feet away from the dam and taken to the nearby family home.

Joseph Petro was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Petro who resided at 305 Front St. He was a native of Bohemia and was 55 years of age. In 1861, at the age of 9, he came to Watertown and was a well digger for many years. He was quite well known in the city and well liked by all of his acquaintances, being of a quiet and unassuming nature. He was a brother of Frank Petro, for many years local manager of the Wisconsin Telephone exchange.

The funeral took place on a Sunday afternoon, from the home to St. Henry’s Cemetery.