Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-11-19
DEATH OF
REUBEN GEHRKE
Oldest Son OF VIM. Gehrke, Ex-County
Clerk, Accidentally Killed by the
Discharge Of Gun.

Everybody knew William Gehrke,
our ex-county clerk, who, with his
family, went to Fresno, Cal, several
years ago to reside. Mr.. and Mrs.
Gehrke have just met with the loss
of their Oldest son, Reuben, in a man.
ner that was very sad and their hosts
of friends will sympathize very deeply
with them in their affection. The
accident occurred on Sunday the 10th
of November. An article published
in one of the papers in Fresno, con-
corning the accident is as follows:
"While Ray Lunde of 305 N street
was extracting the shells from shot
gun yesterday morning at the Fred
Dow vineyard on Butler avenue, one
of the shells accidentally exploded
and the charge struck Reuben w.
Gehrke, aged 10, in the right groin.
lie bled to death in 10 minutes and
before the arrival of medical assist
ance. Gehrke was an employee at
Hollands grocery store and resided
With his mother and father at 146 ]
street. The body was taken in charge
by Coroner Bean and the inquest will
likely be held today. No arrange
ments have been made for the tuner
al services.
Lunde is not held responsible for
the tragedy and investigation made
by the coroner yesterday showed that
the shooting was purely accidental.
Lunde is completely overcome by the
sad ending to the little hunting trip
and yesterday was confined to his
bed. He will be able to be present at
the inquest today. Gehrke's mother
and father are Frustrated with sorrow.
Saturday night Lunde and Gehrke
decided to accompany the militia to
the target range near Laton and take
part in the target practice. They
arose early yesterday morning and
Gehrke called at Lunde's home for
him. The two young men went to
the Armory and there met many
members of the national guard. On
account of the rain the national
guards decided to postpone their trip
to the target range.
Lunde and Gehrke, not to be cheated
out of a day of pleasure, decided to
go hunting. Lunde had his single
Darrell shot gun which he loaned to
Gehrke and borrow pump shot
gun which contains B. hells.
Lunde went to his home on N
l'street again and changed his clothes.
The two started out across the coun-
try and finally reached Butler ave-
nue.. Lunde discharged his gun and
found that the trigger was not in
good working order because of little
rivet that extended out too far.
When they reached the Dow vine
yard Lunde and Gehrke were greeted
by Kenneth Dow, Lunde's cousin.
Lunde asked to borrow a file to fix
his gun. The file was given him and
he went into shed to repair the shot
gun.
Lunde raised the gun over work
| table so that the shells would fall on
the table when they were thrown
out of the gun. Lunde is not certain
inst how many shells he had thrown
from the gun when one caught and
he pulled harder on the lever At
the same time deafening report rang
| out in the barn and Lunde turned
around and saw his comrade stagger-
| ing toward him.
Ray, / guess Pm done for" gasped
Gehrke and he # into Lunde's arms.
Lunde laid him on the floor of the
shed and he ran for help. He as
sisted in carrying Gehrke into the
kitchen of the house and then went
in an automobile with Hershel Hol-
| land, who lives near the Dow vine
| yard, to Fresno in search of a physi-
clan. The telephone at the Dow vine
yard was pressed into use and Dr. o..
| B. Doyle was summoned.
He raced to the scene in his car but
Gehrke was dead when he arrived.
Holland and Lunde found DIR. T. N.
Sample at the Craven sanitarium and
he went with them to the ranch.
| An examination of Gehrke's body
by DIR. Doyle revealed that the charge
had entered the right groin, punctured
the abdomen and severed large ar
terry, from which Gehrke bled to
! diath.
Gehrke has large number of young
friends in this city. He came here
some time ago with his parents from
the East"