The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-04-09
SETTLERS RECALL INCIDENTS
Men Left City Under Perfect Weather
Conditions and Boats Were Caught in
a Squan q Quarter of Mile Off the
Harbor-One Body Never Recovered.

Sorrowful memories of tragedy of
long ago We're recalled in many homes
in Kenosha today when the story was
told of the loss of the lives~of eight
fishermen from Kenosha who were
drowned in the lake on the afternoon
of April sth, 1874 Eight men lost
their lives, Many of them were from
among the best known families of Ke-
nosha. On the day after the tragedy the
Telegraph Courier told the following
story of the accident
cup to the hour Of three yesterday
afternoon the weather was perhaps
the most spring like that we have yet
had. Ladies by the score were out
calling, children in gleefal mood sport
ed in the warm sun, the men greeted
each other with the most appreciative
references to the weather. 1t was a
glorious day and everybody seemed TO
be happy, but the storm king was ap.
preaching and nearer and nearer still
the northeast winds were rushing until
about three O'Clock the clear skies
were suddenly overcast, the lake be-
gan an angry roar, and the winds
rushed through the streets with almost
terrifying force. The fishermen had
not arrived and anxious friends were
running in every direction to gather
some intelligence concerning them,
Hundreds of eyes peered ont over the
waters and several boats were discern
ed struggling bravely against the
storm When the Holderness brothers
arrived they told Of the difficulties
which one of the fishing parties had in
managing their boat and their sudden
disappearance From the land it was
seen that two boats had capsized and
powerful glasses were Immediately set
TIC a score of eyes. At one time several
men were seen clinging to the boats.
Dispatches were sent to Racine for the
tug but the answer was received "Cau
not make your harbor. Again Captain
Frantz and j. B. Kupfer sent word,
"Come anyway and make Chicago or
any other port, but the reply, "Can
not get out, sea is too heavy" chilled
every heart and blighted every hope.
We can say nothing Of the poor fisher
men themselves. Their sufferings must
be imagined Their names are. On
Henry Borkenhagen boat, Gust
Raether, Fred Borkenhagen, August
Kemp. Charles Shrunk. On the boat
owned by John Arndt were John Arndt,
Joseph Arndt, Christian Hansen and
Christian Jensen. Fred Borkenhagen
leaves a wife and eight children, August
Kemp a. wife and six children, A.
Raether wife and five children, john
Arndt a wife and one child, and
Charles Shrunk wife. =
The boats went down quarter of a
mile off the Kenosha harbor just after
three CLOCK in the afternoon and old
settlers recall the fact that thousands
of people lined the beach and saw the
men go to their death. The two boats
which capsized were found south of
Kenosha on the following day. The
body Of Borkenhagen was found the
next day at. Waukegan. Two weeks
later the body of Jensen was found at
Evanston. On July 25th the body Of
Christian Hansen was found four miles
south of Kenosha and that of Charles
Shrunk at the same place month
later. The body of Raether came into
the .harhor in September and later
the body of August Kemp was found
near the German burying ground north
Of the city The body of John Arndt
was found off Waukegan in October.
The body. of Joseph Arndt was never
recovered.