River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-12-13
Charles H. Evans.
Particulars of the Finding of His Body in
Lake Pepin.
Theories Respecting the Accident.

lIlR MI. 11AdHS dChltlf lNoAbNiN \ ~
ker and Miss Ellen G. Jones hurriedly
prepared for trip To the scene of the
accident. Arriving at Hudson Miss
Jones felt that she would he unable to
bear the fatigue and excitement OF
the journey, and returned home. Mi.
Parker went to st. Paul, and from
there to Lake City, where he arrived
at ii o o'clock, learning on his arrival
that the bodies of the unfortunates
had been found, and were at the time
at Pepin on the opposite side of the
lake. Upon enquirlng what facilities
there were for crossing the lake he
was informed that he could skate
across that night If he wished. The
risks were considerably greater, how
ever. than he wished to take, and he
therefore waited until morning, TAX
ing the train to Reeds Landing, where
the river was open, and crossing by
boat.
At Reeds Mr.. Parker was joined by
Mr.. Robinson, father of the young
man drowned with Mr.. Evans. To-
gether they proceeded to Pepin, where
they found the bodies prepared for
burial, and already enclosed in cas-
kets, lying in the restaurant of Mrs.
Richards, lady whose heart warmed
toward the two boys in death as it had
during their lives. She had spared no
pains to do what could be done to care
for all that remained in earth of the
two young men so suddenly cut off;
and the hearts of the friends of the
lost ones will go out TO this lady with
| a regard which cannot be expressed III
words.
Mr.. Parker states that Mr.. Evans
| face bore no signs of any mental
| struggle. nor any fear. He went out
of this life without fear, and, AS
all the signs seem to indicate In the
simple yet heroic performance of duty
| in the attempt to save his companion
life, in which attempt he sacrificed
his own.
Assisted by Mr.. Fuller, Clerk of the
School Board, Mr.. Parker gathered the
effects of Mr.. Evans-his clothing,
books, pictures and keepsakes, even to
the last scrap of paper bearing his
handwriting, packing and forward
| ing all to his mother at Arena, Wis.
| At II clock, noon, of Thursday, all
| arrangements were completed, AID the
| bodies were taken to Reeds, where
| Mr.. Evans brother and uncle took
charge of the remains ana proceeded at
| once to Arena, where the funeral
was held ON Sunday.
During his stay at Pepin President
| Parker CLEANED the following partlcu-
| lars of the accident, as far as they
| will ever be known to man.
After school, on Monday, Mr.. Evans
and Rev. Robinson, of the Nj. Il.
Church, went out on the lake to skate.
Finally it was proposed by one that
that they should skate over to Lake
City, distant about five miles. 1t was
agreed, and they started. On their
way they met party of boys who
warned them of the dangerous air
holes ON the Minnesota side. Profit !
ing by this warning they passed over
to the City safely, where they took |
supper, made some purchases, and /
about Z o'clock started on their return |
trip. They were not seen again I
alive. The story as told by the ice
the following morning, and which |
we reproduce below, indicates that in /
returning they ran to close to- the |
sOuthernmo5t air EolP. The tracks OF I
the skaters run parallel until the hole
was reached. Mr.. Robinson was now
apparently little to the south of Mr..
Evans, and struck a tender spot in the
ice, and went under. His hat remain
ed on the ice. The skate marks show
that Mr.. Evans passed the hole safely,
but hearing the cry OF his companion
he turned short about, united his
scarf, and approached the hole from
the east and south. flung the end of
his scarf as far as he could toward his
struggling friend, and the PREACHER
Gus ice giving way, he too was prccip-
itated into the icy water. How long
the two strong men battled with the
chilly water and the ice, is known on
ly to God and the recording angel.
Mr.. Robinson could not swim, and
was consequently helpless in the
water. Mr.. Evans was an expert swim
mer, but burdened with his skates and
heavy clothing, and chilled by the icy
water, he could not escape. Ii is /
probable that Mr.. Evans did not abate
his attempts to help his FREUD even
after being himself precipltated into
the lake. But we only know that
both persisted in the darkness of that
night; for the story of the struggle t
gives up her secrets-when we shall |
know as we are known.
Quoting from il letter written by |
Mr.. Barker, Sunt. of School for Pepln
County,
''They did not return that night,
and next morning by school time. 1T
became noised abroad that he (Mr. /
Evans was missing, together with /
Mr.. Robinson. Some parties followed
their tracks on the Jake, and within
about mile of Lake City an opening
in the ice was discovered, and al
though they could not get very near,
they thought they saw Mr.. Evans
scarf and the minister's cap ON the
water or lodged in the ice"
A search party was at once organi-
ZeI by the river men, raftmen and
steamboat men who make pepin their
headquarters during the winter, and
who held Mr.. Evans and Mr.. Robin
IN in the highest esteem. Provided
with boats, rugged upon runners, and
with grappels, the party proceeded to
the scene of the disaster. Launching
their boat and breaking the thin ice,
they were soon enabled to secure both
bodies, which were found in about +
twenty feet of water, lying close to-
g,ther-only four feet apart. Mr..
Evans cap was still upon his head.
Mr.. Robius0n's watch had stopped at
1927; MIR. Evans 7:39. The bodies
were taken to Pepin, and cared for by
kind friends, as related above. A
reference TO the diagram will show
the relative situation of the three
towns, the track made by the young
men, and the sc 9ne of the causalty,
which is about one mile from Lake
City landing. The distance across is
about five miles,
Mr.. Evans was born at Lime
Springs. Iowa, Sept. 6, 1860, being at
the time of his death, % years and
months old. His mother is living, his
father dying when he was less than
two years old. Ills aunt. Miss Ellen
c. Jones, has always tken great in
terest in his welfare, and lucatioD,
and the ties which bound them were
as strong as those Of mother and son.
He was tile pride of her life, and
the blow has fallen with crushing
weight upon her.
On Friday evening the Normal Ly-
ceum, OF which Mr.. Evans was
member during his course. held Me-
mortal Services in their hall. The