The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-04-12
FIVE DROWNED
At kANDAN
Prominent Travelling Statesmen At
tempt to Cross Missouri River
Easter Sunday-Boat Upset

Five prominent travelling men were
drowned in the Missouri river at Man
dan Sunday morning, while endeavor-
ing to reach the Northern Pacific high
bridge IN boat, in order to go to Bis
marck to spend the day with their
families. The victims, all of whose
bodies have been recovered, are:
JOHN A. VALE of Bismarck, sales
man for the J. D. Grant Auto Access
series company of Chicago.
E. ]. MASSEY of Mandan, employ
ed by the Western Motor Sales COM
pany of Mandan.
NAT PRENTICE of Bismarck,
salesman for the Minneapolis Drug
company.
A. A. Won HAGEN of Bismarck,
salesman for the Thompson Grain
company of Minneapolis
HARRY A. BARWIND of Bis
marck, salesman for the Gowran,
Lenning, Brown Grocery company of
Duluth.
A desire to spend Easter Sunday
with their families prompted the four
Bismarck travellers to attempt MAX
ing the hazardous trip across the swol-
len river. E, j. Massey, one of the VIC
TINS, and Representative Michael
Lang Of Mandan, who was rescued and
is recovering in local hospital vol
unteered to row the men to the bridge.
The boat capsized when it struck
submerged post and all Of the men
were thrown into the turbulent wat
ers. Mr.. Lang's clothing caught on
partly submerged fence and sustained
him until help came.
The bodies of H. A. Barwind Nat
Prentice and A. A. Won Hagen were re-
covered early this morning. They
were lodged in wire fence. At noon
the bodies of j. A Vale and e. J. Mas
sey We're recovered, twelve yards from
the fence which held the bodies of the
others.
Four Leave Families
-Four of the victims of the drowning,
Vale, Massey, Prentice and Won Hagen,
were married and had families and it
was desire to be at home on Easter
Sunday that prompted them to risk
the hazardous trip to the railroad
bridge in row boat.
The story of the drowning, which
plunged the entire membership of the
Commercial Travellers of North Da-
kota into mourning, is pathetic in the
extreme and is probably most wildly
told in the case of Won Hagen.
Starts Home for Easter Dinner
Early Sunday morning Won Hagen
telephoned his wife that he would be
home for Easter dinner The hearts
of his three little children were filled
with Joy, and they eagerly awaited
the return of daddy" to help them
color Easter eggs. For hours the fam
lily awaited the return of husband and
father and shortly before 3 o'clock
brother statesmen informed the wife of
the tragedy. She was overcome with
grief.
Draw Lots for Fatal Trip
The idea to cross the river in a row
boat originated at gathering of trav-
cling men, who make their headquar-
tiers in Bismarck, and were anxious to
be home for Easter, in Manden no.
tel. Lots were cast to see which
would make the trip Saturday night.
The four men who were drowned lost
the drawing and, according to agree
ment were to remain in Mandan over
night and make the trip Sunday morn
ing. Lang and Massey volunteered to
take the men to the railroad bridge,
and shortly before 10 O'Clock the six
men piled their suitcases and bags in
to the boat and set out for the bridge,
happy in the thought that they would
be able to join their families at East
err dinner.
Prentice and Vale were prominent
Masons, and all were active members
of the Elks and U. C. T. organizations.
The funerals of four of the victims
were held at the auditorium at Bis
marck Wednesday, thousand friends
attending. The four collins were
placed on the stage which was veri-
table garden of flowers.
The body Of Won Hagen was buried
Immediately after the services. The
body of Vale was sent to Fargo, Bar
wind to Milwaukee and Prentice to
St. Paul. Prentice was well known in
Minot, this city having been part Of
his territory at one time.
Mrs. Sam Strong and son, Merrill,
of Velva are spending a few DAYS in