Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-10-04
(From Sunday S Daily

The tragic death Dy drowning IN
NGinocqua lake, Villas county, Of Frank
E. Behlke, assistant postmaster and
prominent young citizen OF Water
town, has caused a pail of gloom to
overshadow the city and citizens uf all
classes are sharing with his parents
and brothers and sister IN their great
grief. The first tidings Of the sad
to befalI Mr.. BehIke were
received yesterday morning about IL
o'clock, when DR.. T. F. Shinnick was
handed telegram from Edward
Behlke of Bazelhurst, merely announ-
cling the fact of the drowning of his
brother Frank, giving none of the
details OF the accident.
The news spread oven the city like
wild fire and it seemed only a few
moments before the entire populace
was cognjzant of the sad fatality to
befall one Of Watertowns most prom
lnent and popular young men. From
every acquaintance of the victim of
the accident came expressions of
heartfelt grief, fer no young man in
the city held a higher place IN the es-
tImatiun of the public.
1t was only shurt time before the
receipt of the message of sorrow, that
associates of Mr.. 2ehlke received
post cards from their beloved friend,
mailed at Minocqua, 5 p. M Friday,
IN which he briefly told Ct the excel
lent time his party was having, ad-
ding that they had gore to Minocqua,
twelve miles, by GOAT. The meagre
details caused great deal of suspense
in the city and all friends awaited
further word to learn more of the
details of the drowning The telegram
received by Dr. Shinnick stated that
a search for the body would be made
and if recovered in time would be
shipped last evening, reaching here at
AS this morning on the Milwaukee
road.
1t was just week ago this morn
ing that The Leader published an item
to the effect that Messrs. Frank E.
Behlke and Erwin Blttner would
leave that morning for Hazelhurst to
remain a week visiting Franks broth
err, Edn ard. and also to enjoy fishing
trip at the lakes in tn; t vicinity. The
young men had planned on coming
home tomorrow, leaving the scene of
their outing this evening.
The remains were shipped from
Minocqua last evening at O'Clock,
accompanied by Erwin Blttner, who
accompanied Mr.. Behlke on the trip,
and Joseph Schneider of Wausau, who
is connected with the lumber concern
by which Edward BehIke is employed
at Hazelhurst. The brother was also
one of the party to reach here this
morning at As o'clock, to which time
full details of the sad affair were
made known.
The details of the sad accident
were net learned till the arrival of
the party this morning on their be-
lated train, which arrived here at
a AS o'clock. To representative Of
The Leader, who met the party at
Portage, Edward Behlke. the berea-
we'd brother Of the victim of the acct
dent, told the story which was sub
stantially as follows: Frank Behlke,
Erwin BIttner of this city, and DIR.
Seivert of Hazelhurst, left that place
about ZOO O'Clock in the afternoon for
Minocqua in gasoline launch owned
by the lumber company by which Ed
ward Behlke is employed, enjoying a
trip along the lakes, arriving at Mi
nocqua between 3 80 and 100 O'Clock.
The young men enjoyed about an hour
there, during which time Frank
Behlke purchased and addressed the
post cards, which were received by
his friends here yesterday morning,
only short time before the sad It'd
ings of his tragic death were received.
Lunch was also purchased to b. par
taken of OIL their return trip. Frank
had been in charge of the engine Of
the launch on the trip. While the
launch was IN narrow stream con
Meeting Minucque lake with the Tom
ahawk lakes, the members of the par
ty were in the front end of the launch
eating their lunch. Frank left his
comrades to resume his pust at the
engine. In doing so, instead of walk
ing in front of Mr.. Bittner, he step
ped on he seat and attempted TO pass
behind him on the edge of the boat
and in dong so, evidently lost his
balance, falling into the stream. The
hearing of the splash as Frank fell
into the water was the first intimation
of the accident that had happened.
DR.. Seivert FASTENED to the engine in
an effort to stop the boat, but I'M
fortunately experienced difficulty in