The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-10-23
Receiving Teller at First National
Bank Knocked From Boat by
Recol of Gun.
BODY IS RECOVERED
SHORTLY AFTER ACCIDENT
Efforts to Help Young Man in Vain !;
Held On to Boat for Forty
five Minutes,

Merle D. Spencer. 21. receiving
teller at the First National bank, was
accidentally drowned Sunday after
noon in Four-Legged lake near
Leonard, when he was knocked from
a duck boat by the recoil of a shot
gun.
His body was recovered short
time after the accident and was
brought to, the Huffman & O'Leary
undertaking parlors in this city.
On Hunt Trip.
Spencer, in company with M. E..
Smith of the Robinson Lum-
ber company, George S. knight,
agent for the 500 Line, and G. l..
Soper Of Leonard, left early Sunday
morning for hunting trip near
Leonard. They hunted during the
morning and early in the afternoon
the party paired off, Spencer and
Knight going to FOur-Legged lake
and Smith and Soper going to an
other nearby lake. i
No ducks were seen by the party
in Four-Legged lake and while walk
ing along the shore Spencer found an
old duck boat and paddle. knight
warned him about going out in the
boat, but despite the warnings
Spencer. padded out. He padded
around for short time and was re-
turning to shore when he shouted to
Knight that flock of ducks was
coming over the lake.
knight shot at the ducks and later
Spencer shot. He was knocked out
# the boat into the water, it is be-
1ieved, by the recoil of the gun. The
boat was upright. He shouted for
help and held on to the side of the
boat was was unable to pull himself
into 1t.
Holds on As Minutes.
His cries attracted a nearby farm
er, who with Knight, got an old
wagon box which they attempted to
use as boat to rescue Spencer. The
wagon box sunk and Knight went
to the lake where Smith and Soper
were hunting to secure the boat they
were using. It was about one-half
mile from Four-Legged lake and
when they returned the farmer told
them that Spencer had let go OF the
boat a few minutes before. He had
held onto the boat for 45 minutes and
it is believed became weakened be-
cause of the ice cold water.
The body was recovered few min
utes later. e. C'
Merle D. Spencer was born July
80, 1895, at Wadena, Minn., and was
the younger son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Deyro Spencer, who survive him, to-
gether with an elder brother, Ray
Spencer, employed by the Great
Northern Express company, and two
sisters, Mrs. Pearl Miller of Bemidji
and Mrs. James Benfeld of COrbett,
Ore. The father is in Canada and his
mother is living in this city. The
sympathy of the entire community is
extended to them in their hour of be-
reavement.
Merle Spencer was conscientious,
broad-minded, honest, courteous and
courageous. He was loyal to his en-
ployers and was in line for advance
ment.
His many friends in Bemidji loved
him and many a sympathetic tear was
shed when it was learned that his
smiling cOuntenance would be seen
no more and that Gods angel had
taken his soul to realms above, where,
we believe, there is everlasting peace
and happiness. He will be missed
from his accustomed place in life, but
his memory will ever linger in the
hearts of his friends and associates
and his grave will be adorned with
the tender forget-me-nots of future
years. t'
The funeral will be held tomorrow
afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the
Methodist church. Rev. B. D. Hans
com will officiate The Bemidji Ma
val Militia, of which Mr.. Spencer was
a member, will have charge of the
funeral. 49, E