Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-03-29
Madison. March q.

Madison, March Y.
William Frazier MCGOWAN, aged five
years, the little son of Nj. and Mrs.
Angus MCGOWAN, and little playmate,
Wilfred Bondi, four years old, the son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Bondi, met a
tragic death by howning yesterday
afternoon in Lake Mendota.
The children, who had wandered
away from home and out upon the lake
early in the afternoon, fell through a
crevice in the ice about a block OUT
from the shore near the Yahara lock
in scarcely more than three feet OF
water.
The bodies were recovered by Angus
MCGOWAN. the father of little Frazier,
who was out in search Of the missing
children. He dragged the bodies out
of the water and while laboring with
frantic haste to resuscitate them called
for help. Several men ran to his as.
sistance, among them Otto B. Haus-
mann and John Hortsmeier, who also
aided in conveying the bodies across
the marsh to the homes. Medicci aid
was at once summoned, but the utmost
efforts failed to restore life.
An Unforeseen Accident.
The tragic accident which has strick-
en- two homes in the seventh ward
was one OF those happenings which
perhaps can not be foreseen or prevent
ed The two children, who were al
most daily playmates, living but a
block apart, met yesterday shortly
after 1 o'clock Wilfred had obtained
a penny from his mother and gained
permission to go 10 the store of Goude
and company, 1902 East Washington
avenue, a few blocks from home, where
he Intended to invest his mite
in candy. HIS home is at
I'LL Eas Gorham street and
the MCGOWAN home is at 81 North
Few street, Just around the corner
On his way 10 the store Wilfred met
five-year-old Frazier VINO dragged be,
hind him his small draywagon. The
two little fellows stayed about the
neigh0orhood playing together and
were seen in the 100 block of East
Johnson street as late as 3 o'clock.
Afterwards they went across the
marsh sidewalk to Sherman avenue,
and tempted by the expanse of ice be-
fore them, ventured out upon the froz-
en- lake.
Children Missed.
About 4:30 the little ones were
missed by Mrs. MCGOWAN, who sup
posed her small son to be where she
last saw him, on the street near home.
Becoming alarmed at his absence she
began to look for him, but falling to
find him, raised an alarm. Then be
gan the search.
Finds Children In the Lake.
Mr. McGowan secured the neighbor.
hood and presently gathered that the
two children had been seen going in
the direction d Lake Mendoza with
increasing 0rehensions lie hurried to
the lake and guided by the marks OF
the little cart in the snow and slusb
tracked his way along the lakeshore
towards the YahaTa locks He found
the wagon, and presently In a crevice
Of the ice discovered the TWO little
bodies. This was al a point a short
distance from where the lake flows
into the Yahara river.
Current Cracked the Ice.
The strong current Of the lake a;
this point had cracked the tee, which
was sound over all the rest OF tue
lake. InIo this cIlck the two unfor-
Inmates, mere babies had fallen, and
in spite Of their struggles were unable
10 regain the sound ice. According Ia
the physicians, = was impossible to tell
how long the bodies had been in the
water although it is thought that the
time did not exceed 20 or so minutes.
The water was not deep at the point
where the drowning occurred, and the
loss Of life was due in part to the shock
and chill OF the exposure Mr.. Meow.
an himself found the two bodies and
made Intellectual efforts to revive them.
!
lungs were not filled with water as Is
usually the case In a drowning, bur
the dreadful plunge and bitter coll
watery exposure left life entirely ex
tinct. Mr.. MCGOWAN and Mr.. Haus
mann conveyed the dripping body 81
Frazier home in one Of the Hausmanh
wagons. while Mr.. Horstmeier carried
the body of Wilfred Bonii to his home
DR.. Z. A. Brown and DR.. W. w Gil
visited the MCGOWAN home and WORKED
over the body, hut finally admitted tbs
uselessness of the attempt. DR. j. \
Mack was called to the Bordj home
where he used every means in hi
power, but at the end OF an hours
labor was Obliged 10 abandon the work
The two cases of death were ideatica
IN every particular. Life in both thu
little bodies was entirely extinct befor
they were taken from the water
where they were found lying side b.
side.
Deep Grief in Both Homes.
The deaths Of these two children vi
with each other in their tragic import
Frazier was the only son Of Mr.. an.