William J. Nattkemper
Indiana Department of Conservation
Tuesday, April 27, 1926
Served: 5 years
Badge #:
Panel 38W, Line 21
Panel L4, Line 5
Incident Details
Cause of Death:Drowned
Date/Time of Incident:
Tuesday, April 27, 1926
08:15 am
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
Wabash River at Tecumseh
Incident County:
Vigo
Incident Township:
Fayette
Weapon Used:
None
Suspect Disposition:
None
Burial Place:
Highland Lawn Cemetery, Terre Haute
Game Warden William Nattkemper and Game Warden William Peare drowned in the Wabash River at Tecumseh, north of Terre Haute, after their boat took on water and capsized on a very windy day.
Both wardens, along with three other wardens, had investigated the sound of gunshots and were returning upstream to destroy illegal fishing nets when their boat capsized. The other three wardens were able to swim to safety.
The body of Game Warden Nattkemper was found on May 1 about a mile downstream. The body of Game Warden Peare was found on May 5 about two miles downstream near the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway bridge.
Game Warden Nattkemper, from Terre Haute, was survived by his wife.
Historical Note • This incident was one of 24 which resulted in the line of duty deaths of two officers. |
The responsibilities of the Indiana Department of Conservation (1919–1965) are now under the jurisdiction of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Indiana Department of Conservation
Game Warden Nattkemper