The following undated, unidentified newspaper article was found in a copy of Helen Craft's Scrapbook at the Lowell Public Library:
Suicide
Last Friday afternoon while the railroad section men were working on the track at the north end of Cedar Lake they heard the report of a firearm about 3:00 o'clock. This in itself signified nothing and created little apprehension, but about 5:00 o'clock when the men were returning from their labor they noticed a flat-bottom boat, containing a dark motionless object, floating in the water in the rear of the Armour ice house. The men resolved to investigate the matter, and unfastening a boat from its moorings they rowed toward the mysterious boat. Upon approaching near enough they could discern that the boat contained the body of a man lying with his head hanging downward over the side of the boat and a bullet hole through his temple. The boat was towed ashore. In the dead man's right hand was tightly clutched the revolver which probably done the deadly work. The discoverers of the body could not identify it and the report was circulated that an unknown man [was] found dead in a row boat at Cedar Lake and a special to the Chicago Chronicle and the Times Herald corroborated the statement. The men did not move the body but immediately went and notified the coroner. The coroner arrived and proceeded with the inquest. The only thing found upon his person was a small memorandum book and a card bearing his name and address. The people were astounded at learning that the dead man was Rally Nichols, son of Jacob and Julia Nichols, of Creston. The coroner returned a verdict of suicide, which is accepted by the majority of the people and is evidently the correct solution of the mystery, but some entertain the idea that the young man was murdered. The place where the bullet entered the head was perfectly free from powder and the flesh was not torn. No cause can be assigned for him committing this deed, and his loss is deeply regretted by all who knew him for he was well liked and respected by everyone. Thursday night he stayed at the home of his sister and Friday morning he arose before daylight and said good bye and told her that he would like to see his father and brother-in-law before he went but that he did not have time for he was going to take the early morning train and go to Chicago in time to take a boat across Lake Michigan to Michigan. Various conjectures have been made as to the motive for him taking his life but the mystery is as dark as Erebus. This is a very sad and tragic ending of the life of a young man just entering the strife and turmoil of a great busy world, and another infamous blot is registered upon a page of Cedar Lake history of crime. His age was 20 years, 7 months and 11 days. The funeral was held from the Methodist church at this place on Saturday, September 14th, 1895, the Rev. J. Bruce officiating.