Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-05-13

LdSu SUNDAY alJeTHOOH az pa
O'Clock, our city was thrown into the
most intense excitement by the rumor
that a launch in which there were
ten people had been upset In the
Wisconsin river at the tannery bridge,
and six of whom were drowned
Automobiles, bicycles, carriages and
pedestrians all started for the scene
of the tragedy. At $50 O'Clock both
sides of the river were crowded with
people and vehicles. There were all
kinds of stories afloat, the most start
ling being that Mr.. and Mrs. Gustaye
Janke, Sr., and four of their children
were drowned by the capsizing OF the
boat. One fact remained and that
was launch containing Mr.. Janke
and nine others had upset and six
were drowned.
1t seems that Mr.. Janke and his
brothers-in-law, Herman A. Roehl
and Robert Radlotf, went out in the
Janke launch, a boat sixteen feet
long, containing a three-horse power
gasoline motor, for pleasure ride.
They took in with them seven chill
dren, viz: Gustave Janke, Jr., Elean-
or, Henry, Gilbert, Gertrude and
Walter Janke and Walter Roehl. 1t
was intended also to have taken Mrs.
Janke, but the boat was so heavily
loaded that she refused to go. After
being out on the water for some time
the return was made, and when they
reached the tannery bridge and were
pointing for the boat house, just what
cannot be definitely stated.
One who saw the catastrophe says
that they had passed above the bridge
when the motor stopped and the boat
turned sideways in the swift current,
fioated down and was caught in one
of the eddies and in a moment it was
upset and all were fioundering in the
deep, turbulent waters of the Wis
conSe.
A man in a carriage on the bridge
heard the cries and the men telling
the children to hang on to the sides OF
the boat. He saw in a moment what
had happened and shouted with all
his power to those in another launch,
further down the river, for assistance.
In this boat were Hans Weik and
George StolZe, who put on all speed
possible, and managed to save Henry
Janke, aged 16, who was making a
desperate effort to save his brother
Gilbert, aged four years. The latter
was saved by Robert Papkalla, who
had also reached the scene in time to
render assistance. Waiter Roehl,
aged 10 years, was also saved by Messrs.
Weik and Stole and had it not been
for their motor refusing to work, it is
thought the two little girls could
have been saved, but they sank be-
fore assistance could reach them.
Robert Radloff, aged 40 years, caught
hold of the boat and was able to hang
On until the boat was towed ashore
by MessrS. Papkalla and Ed. Christian.
The boat was found to have a broken
rudder, but otherwise uninjured. Mr..
Janke was seen making desperate
efforts to save his children but he
could do very little in the swift cur
rent and cold water. Mr.. ROehl also
went down in vain attempt to save
1ne of the Janke children.
During all this time Mrs. Janke,
who came down to the river to well
come her family, saw them drown.
Her awful sufferings and wailings
were such that none present will ever
forget them. 1t is a wonder to every
body that she could have survived
such terrible ordeal, as it was neces-
sary for her to be taken home and
placed in charge of physicians.
Those who were drowned were:
Gustav Jahnke, aged IS.
Herman A. Roehl, aged As.
Gustav Janke, Jr., aged ID
Eleanor Janke, aged 10.
Gertrude Janke, aged nearly 7.
Walter Janke, aged 3.
There were plenty willing to lend
a helping hand in search for the
bodies. Launches and boats were en-
listed in the work, and it was nearly
an hour before the searcbers came
across the body of Gustav Janke, Jr.
the search was kept
up throughout the night, and the
further fact that the water had been
lowered several feet by the opening
of the gates at the Rothschid dam,
none of the others were found. Large
search lights were used which enabled
making a thorough search of the bot
tom of the river. The youngest of
the party, Walter Janke, was found
on Monday morning. The body had
floated quite distance down the
river and was lying upon the shore.
Mr.. Janke's body was recovered at
9 O'Clock, and close to it few mo-
ments afterward Mr.. Roehl's body
was taken from the water. Both
were found in deep water short dis
lance down the stream from where
the boat capsized- All of the bodies