Paul Jahnke

...had been so sure of death...

The Ft. Dodge Daily Chronicle reported:

This was so uncanny a firsthand investigation was made to find just how plainly the fates had spoken.  The young couple had been so sure of death they had made their wills before going aboard the Eastland.

Their little flat is now locked and empty, for the young bridegroom and bride are side by side in the morgue.  But Mrs. Paul Altman, the landlady at 4817 West 22nd Street, was found.

"Both had a dread of the boat," said Mrs. Altman.  "Now they are dead.  They were married just six weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Janke, and they were so happy, Friday night when Mrs. Janke was fussing over the lunch, she stopped and expressed a fear that something would happen to the boat."

"Later Mr. Janke rang my bell.  'Here is my key and the $50 for my mother if we don't come back from the trip,' he said."

"I still have their key.  Their relatives came this morning and opened the flat.  They found a letter on the dresser and also a will.  Mrs. Janke wished that her mother might have her bracelet and rings and I gave them the money.  Both bodies were shipped to New Hampton, IA, yesterday."

"Her father had the same kind of presentiment, he said, and warned the young couple to keep off the boat.  That is why he did not go - because of his foreboding of evil."

Copyright © Ft. Dodge Daily Chronicle
reprinted from the Ft. Dodge Daily Chronicle

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New Hampton Newspaper
New Hampton, Iowa, Wednesday, August 4, 1915LIFE HISTORY OF MR. AND MRS. PAUL JAHNKE

Who died in the Eastland Disaster, Saturday, July 24th - buried in New Hampton, Wednesday, July 28th

Paul Jahnke was born in Schlesien, Germany, January 8th, 1885.  He was left motherless at the age of seven years.  When fourteen years of age he was confirmed in the Lutheran church.  He became an electrician and was sent to China.  In 1909 he came to America and worked in New York and Philadelphia.  Five years ago he came to Chicago.  On June 1, 1915, he was married to Miss Louise Bottin in this city.  He died Saturday, July 24th, in the Eastland disaster in Chicago.  His father was a soldier in the German army and is now held as a captive by the Allies.  Besides his father, he leaves on brother, also in Germany, and one sister living in Colorado.

Louise August Bottin was born in Pomeroy, Iowa, June 1, 1886.  She attended school from the time she was seven until she was fourteen years of age.  In 1901 she was confirmed in the Lutheran church.  Eight years ago she went to Chicago.  On June 1, 1915, in this city, she became the bride of Mr. Paul Jahnke, and with him passed to her death on Saturday, July 24th.  She leaves to mourn her death, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Bottin, three brothers and seven sisters.

The funeral of Mr. and Mrs. Jahnke was held Wednesday, July 28th, from St. Paul's Lutheran church in this city and interment was made in Graceland cemetery.

Copyright © New Hampton Newspaper
reprinted from the New Hampton Newspaper