Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-07-08
Big Celebration
Has Sad Ending
Grand Rapids Had Ideal Day and Program Was Carried Out
Was Advertised. Everything Pleased the Visitors
The Balloon Ascensions Were Witnessed by Thousands
Of People. The Evening Ascension Came the Sad Ending
in Which Prof Eherhardt Lost His Life by Drowning

$50 feet from the west shore they
found the Professors one foot
fastened and entangled in The ropes
of the parachute in such way that
it prevented him from coming to
the surface. 1t is now made perfect
/ ly clear that when he saw that he
was over the pond and that he must
land in the water, that he did not
/ release himself from the balloon un-
til he was within about so feet from
the water and in that manner the
parachute was unable to open and
they vent INTO the water together
His drowning was inevitable, fasten-
ed as he was, and no boats, or help
within reach to give him prompt as
sistance. His life therefore had to
pay the penalty. The remains were
| taken to J. R. Ragans undertaking
rooms, where they are being pre-
pared for shipment and burial. Thus
another chapter is added to the his
| torical events in connection with the
mill pond This accident was a
sad ending to an excellent program,
well rendered and highly pleasing to
the people who love to celebrate the
great national holiday. His wife and
relatives have the sincere sympathy
of the citizens of Grand Rapids in
this sad hour of their bereavement.
Program Carried Out AS Advertised
and Then Some
At sun rise Monday morning the
people of Grand Rapids were awak-
ened from their slumbers by the dis
charge of 40 guns in rapid succession
by those who had charge of this
part of the program.
At S:45 a. m. the Grand Rapids anC
Juvenile bands assembled at the city
hall and marched from that point to
the court house playing national airs.
At 900 a. m. there was to be a
climbing contest Of a creased pole
near the library building, but on ac-
count of there being no contestants
this event was not carried out. At
$3.50 a. m. potato race took place
in front Of the library building in
which there were eight contestants.
Prizes $500, $500 and $1.O0. First
prize went to Leonard Litke, second
prize to Louis Schrader and the
other six each got twenty-five cents
a piece for entering.
At 1000 a. m. a bicycle race took
place from Sam Church's drug store
to Robinson farm and return Hor-
ace Palmetier took first prize, $500,
Louie Simonson, second, $500; L.
Nelson, third, $500.
At 10:30 a. m.-Men's foot race
from G. & n. w. track to Church's
drug store. w. F. Marian took first
prize, $500; w. Damon, second, $500
and the box of cigars were divided be
tween two others who were about
evenly tied.
At 10:45-Foot race from sam
Church's drug store o c. & n. w,
Track and return. Frank Natwick,
first prize. $500; Don Johnson, sec
ond $500; Myron Natwick, third,
$500.
At 11:00 a. m.-Swimming con
test from Consolidated break water
Natwick, $500, second, Russell Does
to wagon bridge. First prize, Albert
burg, $500, Carroll Lamberton, third,
$500.
AT 11:3O a. m,-Rowing contest.
First prize, H. Imerman, $500, Geo.
Odergard, second, $500 NJ. Natwick,
$1.50.
1900 a. m.-FlouT Contest. There
were six contestants, each receiving
E$1.00 piece as follows: Leonard
Franson, Benton Philleo, Myron Hill,
Emmett Burns, Joe Holly, and Emil
Keenash.
Committee in charge of these
events were Messrs. Joseph Cohen,
L. J. Goodness and A. d. Hill.
Farmers Races
At 1:30 o. m.-Farmers' Buggy
race, best two out of three, Peter
Brown took first prize, G. Knutson.
second and Carlson, third.