The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-08-04
Crew Of the Yacht MireIIa Rescues
Four Boys From Sinking Boat
in the Racine HarD0r.
ONE BOY LOST IN THE ACCIDENT.
Gasoline Launch Crashes Into the Kenosha
Yacht and Ted Larsen Is Drowned.
His Companions Rescued.

The sixth annual cruise of the ke-
nosha Yacht club, from Kenosha to
Racine, on last Saturday, ended in a
disaster, for just as the yacht Mire11a
was entering the Racine halrbor a
little gasoline launch, carrying a
party of Racine boys, crossed her
bows and in the collision which fol-
lowed the launch was capsized and
sank to the waters edge. Before
the life saving crew could reach the
scene of the accident Ted Larsen,
aged 10 years, who was on the launch,
lost his life in the waters of the lake
and the body has not as yet been re-
covered.
The members of the crew of the Ke-
nosha yacht gave efficient aid to the
crew of the sinking launch, and four
of the members of the party on board
the launch were pulled aboard the
Mire11a and taken in safety to Racine.
1t was just before o'clock that the
accident occurred. The Kenosha
yachts, fighting gale from the south
west, had skirted along the beach
and had managed to creep up to the
Racine harbor. The yachts Mamie
and Name had fought their way
through the storm to the harbor but
the Mirella, in charge of Captain
Frank Jackson, had dropped back to
pick up the lingo, which was unable
to make her way against the storm.
The rain was falling in sheets and
the yachts were moving at furious
rate through the choppy sea. Captain
Jackson had just rounded the harbor
piers on the starbodrd tack, when
without any warning, there was a
crash and the captain discovered that
the launch had crossed his bow and
the smaller boat, which had been
broken by the collision, was sinking
al most within hands reach of the
Mire11a.
Slipping along without a light to
show its presence the crew of the Ke-
nosha yacht had not seen the launch,
and had they seen the little boat it
would have been impossible for them
to have turned their course, for the
driving wind had caught the canvas
and was forcing the yacht through
the darkness and storm at a terrific
pace. Captain Jackson and his men
at once recognized the peril of the oc-
cupants of the smaller craft and the
sails were allowed to flap in the wind
while the members of the crew started
in the work of rescue. The captain
reached far over the edge of the yacht
and managed to reach the sinking
launch. The members of the crew
then went to the rescue and in COM
paratively short time four of the
members of the launch party had
been transferred in safety 70 the
Mirella. 1t was after the four people
had reached the yacht that it was
noticed that Larsen was missing, and
then it was too late to save him. His
shouts for help were heard by the
members of the crew but the wind
had driven the Mire11a into the harbor
and it was impossible for them to turn
the boat in time to save the man.
Captain Jackson shouted to the man
to make an effort to catch the lingo,
but Larsen could not swim, and it is
supposed that his fright was so
great that he sunk almost at once.
Captain Jackson signa11ed the life
saving station and the men put out at
once but Larsen had gone to the bot
fOt11 q ND 41o~o ~ I.
The launch, which had great hole
broken IL her hull, was picked up by
the crew and towed into the harbor.
The members of the life saving
crew paid great compliment to the
crew of the Kenosha yacht and there
is no doubt but that all of the occu-
pants Of the launch would have been
drowned had it not been for the quick
action of Captain Jackson and his
crew.
All day Sunday the life savers from
the Racine station searched for the
body of Larsen, but the search was
unsuccessful.
The sad accident put an end to the
cruise of the Kenosha crews and
Sunday noon they sailed out of the
Racine harbor with colors at half
mast.
The race to Kenosha was called off
and the crews brought the boats
silently home.
Young. Larsen was we'll known in
Racine and his death caused quite a
sensation. The captain of the life
saving crew stated that it was strange
that a similar accident had not hap
pened before as the Launches had
been going in and cut of the harbor
without lights for some time.
Frank Sullivan and Joe Gafney
spent Sunday In Racine.