The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-08
GOES OUT FOR SWIM
IN VAONAIS AND
IS DROWNED
John Olson, Night Foreman
of Brown & Bigelow's
Press Room, Is Seized
With Cramps While SWIM
Ming in the Lake and Sinks
From Sight.

John Olson, night foreman of the
press room of Brown & BigeloW, re-
siding with his family at 165 Jackson
street, in West St. Paul, was drowned
in Lake Vadnais yesterday afternoon
while bathing.
Olson and William Merrick went out
in a rowboat about 800 feet from the
shore and dived into the water. After
swimming around for nearly fifteen
minutes Olson was seized with cramps
and sank from sight Merrick, after
making a vain effort to save his COM
panion, had a narrow escape from
death.
Olson and Merrick, with a bouillon
party including twenty-one, went to
Lake Vadnais yesterday to spend the
day. In the afternoon, at 4 o'clock
the two went out in a boat, intending
to take dip.
They rowed out considerable dis
lance from the shore, dived into the
water and left the boat to drift. They
sported about for about fifteen min
utes when they noticed that the boat
had drifted far away from them, being
driven by q wind which was blowing
strongly toward the shore.
Together they swan towards the
boat and were about three yards apart
when Olson suddenly cried for help and
sank.
Merrick, on hearing the cry Of dis
tress, swan with all possible speed
towards his friend, and was within a
few feet of the drowning man when
the latter sank for the last time.
Olson Sinks From Sight.
When Merrick was almost near
enough to grab him Olson cried out:
I'm all in, Merrick!" and sank from
sight.
Merrick was so overcome with
fright that he sank below the water,
and when he reached the surface made
a forlorn attempt to find Olson, but
being unable to do so, and feeling his
strength giving away, swan towards
the boat, which by that time was near
the shore.
Merrick cried for help and it was
several minutes before he attracted the
attention of people on the shore. N.
o. Hage, S78 Payne avenue, who was
at Maloney's place near the shore,
heard the cries and ran for boat, He
was preceded by J. Matasek, $50 Wa
basha street, who leaped into boat
and rowed hurriedly out to rescue Mer-
rick.
When Matasek reached Merrick, the
latter was on the verge Of exhaustion,
having sunk below the surface several
times and having swallowed large
into the boat and brought him to the
shore. Merrick collapsed when taken
on land and those present had diff
Guilty in restoring him. 50 ,
Last night he was in an extremely
fatigued and nervous condition. Mer-
rick is a pressman employed by the
Randall Printing Company, and resides
at. 168 South Wabasha street.
Unable to Find Body.
When Olson was sinking, a boat con-
tanning three of the party, A. B. Nc
Allister, Ed McStay and Henry Cafity,
was a quarter Of a mile away. Alarmed
by his cries and those of Merrick the
three rowed with all possible speed to
the scene Of the drowning, but though
they dived repeatedly they were unable
to find any trace Of Olson. The body
sank to the bottom, about thirty feet
and was caught in the weeds.
Olson and Merrick were both good
swimmers and had frequently sWum in
deep water. The temperature of the
lake was low yesterday, and it j
thought that Olson became chilled.
The tragedy occurred in the south
eastern corner Of the lake, near the
residence Of J. F. Maloney, where the
party was stopping. The other mem
bers of the party who had scattered
about the woods, hurriedly assembled
on learning Of Olson's death and all
devoted their attention to finding the
Dody. They were unable toreach bot
tom, however, and were obliged to senG
to town for graphing hooks.
John olson was 80 years old, and had
lived In st. Paul for many years. He
was widely known, especially in trade
union circles, and was regarded as a
competent workman. He leaves a win
and three small children.